TOP 100 SOCCER SITES
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| Arsenal and Hull in line for heavy FA fine • Players clashed during Saturday's match at the Emirates• Both clubs have until 13 January to respondArsenal and Hull City are braced for a heavy fine from the Football Association after being charged with a failure to control their players during Saturday's fractious encounter at the Emirates Stadium.Tempers boiled over as half-time approached when Samir Nasri appeared to step deliberately on Richard Garcia's ankle, prompting a furious reaction from Stephen Hunt, Craig Fagan and Nick Barmby. A 20-man brawl ensued, with Barmby raising his hands to Nasri and Arsenal midfielder Alex Song pushing Hunt away by the throat while the referee, Steve Bennett, and his assistant attempted to restore order.Bennett subsequently booked Hunt and Nasri but, having admitted he had not witnessed the incident that provoked the mêlée, was asked to review footage by the FA as part of its fast-track disciplinary process. The clubs feared violent conduct charges might be imposed, upon Nasri and Barmby in particular, though the referee reported back on Tuesday that, in his opinion, none of the misdemeanors were worthy of a red card.The teams's conduct, however, fell outside that fast-track system with the FA spending a further 24 hours scrutinising the evidence before confirming charges against both clubs. Arsenal, who went on to win the match 3-0, and Hull now have until 13 January to respond.Arsène Wenger would have been relieved to have seen Nasri avoid suspension with critical games ahead, and his forward ranks already depleted through injury. The Arsenal manager was insistent today that the last four years have been his "best" at the club despite a failure to glean silverware in that time. The Frenchman has won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups in his 13 years in north London, yet rates his ability to retain his team's position near the top in an ever changing landscape as his greatest achievement."I think moving into a new stadium and keeping the team at the top in the last four years is, for me, my best period," said Wenger. "Unfortunately it is as well the period when we have not won trophies. But people forget that we have been reasonably consistent. It has been the most difficult period but as well for me the period where I worked the best."To move into a new stadium and yet still make some money in every single year without the team dropping the level, then maintaining a successful period in the Champions League, and doing reasonably well in the league has been quite difficult."ArsenalHull CityPremier LeagueThe FADominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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