Arsenal are set to contest a Football Association charge of failing to control their players in a bad-tempered Premier League match against Hull last week. Arsenal and Hull were both hit with the FA charge after a mass confrontation involving 21 of the 22 players on the field at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday.
The row started after Arsenal's Samir Nasri appeared to tread on the ankle of Hull midfielder Richard Garcia late in the first half. Hull manager Phil Brown has already hit out at the FA because he believes Nasri had deliberately set out to provoke. However Arsene Wenger, whose side welcome Aston Villa to the Emirates on Sunday, believes the FA have overreacted.
Wenger told arsenal.com: "I think it is harsh but we will try to defend ourselves. I don't think it was a major incident compared to what can happen in a football game. "At the start, the incident was created by Nasri's involvement but after that it was more players of Hull who were around it than Arsenal players. That's why we will try to defend it." Both clubs have until January 13 to formally respond to the FA charges.
Brown complained in midweek: "Why we are up for a charge I don't know. I defend the players to the hilt. As far as I am concerned that lad (Nasri) has gone in there with the intent to start a fight, to start a ruck. "For us to come under criticism yet again is absolutely scandalous, and we'll be defending it." Wenger will be waiting on the fitness of captain Cesc Fabregas for the visit of fellow Champions League hopefuls Villa.
Fabregas missed the 3-0 win over Hull with a minor hamstring strain but may have recovered sufficiently to be involved. Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Robin van Persie (ankle) remain sidelined, along with full-back Gael Clichy (back) and Johan Djourou (knee), while Armand Traore could be ready to return.
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