Wenger Denies Misconduct Charge

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied a Football Association charge of improper conduct. The charge related to comments Wenger made after the Carling Cup final fracas and defeat to Chelsea at Cardiff. He was asked to explain his claim "the whole system is not honest", a reference to FA disciplinary rules.

Wenger also suggested the assistant whom referee Howard Webb consulted before sending off striker Emmanuel Adebayor was a "liar". This was not the first time Wenger had been at odds with the Football Association this season. A date for his personal hearing into an improper conduct charge after a confrontation with referee Steve Bennett during the Portsmouth match at the Emirates Stadium in December has still not been finalised.

And Wenger was fined £10,000 and warned about his future conduct for a touchline bust-up with then West Ham manager Alan Pardew at the end of November.

[Source from; news.bbc.co.uk]

Wenger - Persistent Injuries Were such a Blow to Gallas

Arsène Wenger laments the loss of William Gallas for so much of this season. The central defender arrived on transfer deadline day in August and seemed the perfect replacement for Sol Campbell, who had left the Arsenal Club in the summer.

He slotted in quickly but his season changed with the last kick of training on the eve of the Champions League game with Hamburg in November. Gallas hurt his groin in the process of striking a ball. He would not play again until February 17.

“He was out for three months at a very important period of the season,” said Wenger. For me he is very big player for us. Firstly because he is a winner and he is ready to die on the football pitch to win.

“Secondly because he is good reader of the game, good tactically and can bring a lot to this team “He was very unsettled by his injury and he was desperate to play and come back. It was a big, big blow to him.”

[Source from; arsenal.com]

Arsenal Football Club 1-1 PSV Football Club (agg 1-2)

PSV Eindhoven defender Alex threw Arsenal Club a Champions League lifeline with an own goal - then sent them crashing out with a superb late header.

Arsenal Team needed to score twice to reach the last eight, and looked on course when Alex diverted Denilson's corner into his own net after 58 minutes. Arsene Wenger's side then paid the ultimate price for missing chances.

Alex, on loan from Chelsea Club, headed in Edison Mendez's free-kick with eight minutes left for the vital away goal.

[Source from; news.bbc.co.uk]