Wenger on attack over Bergkamp 'elbow' charge

Arsene Wenger has angrily declared that the Football Association’s six-week delay in charging Dennis Bergkamp for his clash with Lee Bowyer could undermine his side’s title bid.

Wenger remains confident Arsenal will prevail in the championship and called on his side to move an imposing eight points clear of Manchester United this weekend.

Just before United take on Liverpool in the Worthington Cup final, Arsenal face Charlton at Highbury in what Wenger describes as a “vital” game for his side.

The Arsenal boss is nevertheless still fuming at the FA’s decision to charge Bergkamp yesterday following the incident involving Bowyer back on January 19 at Highbury.

“I’m not paranoid enough to think we’re being picked on, but I’m shocked and surprised,” he declared.

“Shocked that Dennis has been charged for something that had been seen by the referee and which was, in my opinion, a genuine accident.

“Then surprised by the time between the incident and the charge.

“I don’t contest the idea that you can charge people on video evidence but it’s the delay and lack of consistency.

“There can be a big effect on the championship. We’re in the final sprint of the season and the consequences on the championship could be more important than if it had happened three weeks ago.”

Arsenal have previously contributed to the slowness of the FA’s disciplinary process, which acting chief executive David Davies promised to speed up only last month.

However, Wenger is worried that any ban could face right in the heart of Arsenal’s bid to win the Premiership and FA Cup, as well as the Champions League.

He insisted there should be an automatic time limit of about three weeks before a charge can be brought against a player.

“Can you be charged 10 years later? Is there a guy sitting there in an office, with tapes lying about, who picks one up and thinks ‘that was only 1972, he must still be charged’!” he said.

“There should be a maximum timetable as you shouldn’t be able to suddenly say, seven weeks later, let’s watch that tape again and then charge him.”

Bergkamp’s elbow was seen to connect with Bowyer’s head in the build-up to Arsenal’s second goal, prompting furious complaints from West Ham.

The Dutchman defended himself afterwards, insisting that he had apologised to Bowyer and that any contact had been purely accidental.

Bergkamp’s reputation has nevertheless increasing come under scrutiny, having been fined for a late tackle on Nils-Eric Johansson earlier this season.

Wenger insisted: “Dennis is a fair player and he has taken a lot of stick in his career, and hasn’t given a lot himself.

“There are two types of elbow incidents. One, when you run at people and charge them with your elbow. Then there is another, when you control the ball and protect it with your body.

“I’ve seen some incidents where the guys runs at another player with his elbow and they’re killers.

“This was a pure accident. I can understand that West Ham contested it as a foul. But I don’t think Dennis wanted to do Bowyer at all.”

Bergkamp, who has 14 days to respond to the charge, is still available to face Charlton on Sunday, with Wenger looking to make the most of United’s involvement in the Worthington Cup final.

While Arsenal fielded a weakened side in the third round and were knocked out by Sunderland, United played a mixture of experienced and untried players before reaching a quarter-final against Chelsea.

From then on, they took the competition seriously, although Wenger is untroubled about not being involved in Sunday’s game in Cardiff.

“We have enough competitions to deal with – the championship, Champions League and FA Cup. For the squad we have, that’s quite enough,” he said.

Asked about United, he added: “Firstly, you play a weakened team twice and they go through. Then you’re in the quarter-finals at home and you think you have 60,000 people there and can’t field unknown players.

“Suddenly you are in the final. That’s what has happened to Manchester United.”