Gunners face FA probe

Arsenal could face a potential defensive crisis if the Football Association charge the club and up to five of their players after the post-match melee at Old Trafford.

The FA were today reviewing video evidence of the incidents which marred Arsenal’s goalless draw away to Manchester United on Sunday.

United and defender Gary Neville could be investigated, but it is Arsenal who are expected to be the main defendants in the FA dock if and when any charges are brought.

While the Gunners should escape the same sort of points deduction with which they were hit in 1990 after a brawl in the same fixture, they could still receive a hefty six-figure fine if found guilty of failing to control their players.

However, the matter is not expected to end there, with the FA also poised to look at whether to individually charge up to five Arsenal players for their part in the scuffles which surrounded Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman, who angered Arsenal with his reaction to Patrick Vieira’s attempted retaliation as he earned a second yellow card, is not set to be investigated himself.

However, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Lauren, who all raced over to harass van Nistelrooy and celebrate in his face, are all at risk of receiving FA charges that could lead to suspensions or fines.

The roles of Ashley Cole and Jens Lehmann are also understood to be under review by the FA, with some reports suggesting that Cole may have attempted to throw a punch.

In a worst-case scenario, that could leave Arsenal, who have already claimed there is an FA vendetta against them after Sol Campbell was charged following the Community Shield, with a disciplinary nightmare encompassing their entire defence.

Campbell is facing a possible ban of up to three games if he is found guilty of retaliation in Cardiff, while Vieira now misses next month’s game at home to Chelsea because of his red card at Old Trafford.

However, if Keown, Cole and Lauren must also face disciplinary action, Arsenal could soon find themselves seriously under-manned in a defence that has already shown signs of weakness.

The North London club will therefore hope to minimise any punishments from the FA, with Arsene Wenger having sought to deflect the blame away from his players immediately after Sunday’s game.

The FA are nevertheless taking the case extremely seriously and are expecting to issue a further update in the next day or so.

FA head of media Adrian Bevington last night told the FA’s website, www.theFA.com: “The FA can confirm that we have received the report from referee Steve Bennett, as well as video tapes of the match.

“As a result, the FA will now review the video tapes in detail and as a matter of urgency. The FA have also requested further videos of the various incidents from different camera angles.

“The FA will be looking at various aspects of player behaviour during the match and in the scenes following the final whistle. The FA will make a further statement as soon as this process is complete.”

Meanwhile former Arsenal hero Ian Wright has played down the significance of the fracas which erupted after the final whistle.

Wright, the Gunners’ record goalscorer, believes such incidents can easily happen in the heat of the moment.

Wright said: “It is a massive game and Martin is really wound up.

“It just happens. People say it is disgusting but it happens, it is a big game. It is one of those things that happen. So what?

“People talk about Arsenal’s disciplinary record but if they are champions at the end of the day people will say Arsene Wenger has done a good job.

“It can happen in high-profile games.”