Wenger denies FA charge

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has decided to contest a charge of improper conduct arising from his side’s infamous clash with Manchester United last month.

Wenger was charged by the Football Association for calling United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy a “cheat” after the Gunners’ 2-0 loss at Old Trafford on October 24.

The Frenchman had been given a deadline of 6pm today to respond to the charge and has now requested a personal hearing.

Van Nistelrooy has already served a three-match ban for a bad challenge on Ashley Cole after deciding not to contest an FA charge of serious foul play.

The ill-tempered match saw the end of Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten Premiership run and ended with a confrontation in the tunnel when it was claimed soup and pizza were thrown.