Wenger D-Day on ban

Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by The Sun

ARSENE WENGER must decide this morning whether to serve a suspension at Spurs tonight or against West Brom on Saturday.

Wenger D-Day on ban

The Arsenal boss will accept a touchline ban after his FA charge of improper conduct for shoving fourth official Martin Atkinson at Sunderland on Saturday.

He was furious after Darren Bent equalised in the fifth minute of injury time, when only four had been allocated.

If Wenger accepts the charge by lunchtime, he will be barred from the touchline for the Carling Cup trip to White Hart Lane.

But if he responds anytime between this afternoon and the Thursday deadline, Wenger will serve the punishment - which also includes an ?,000 fine - for the Premier League visit of the Baggies.

Wenger last night told Arsenal officials it made sense to accept the ban because a failed appeal would see the punishment rise to two matches and a ?2,000 fine.

And with the Carling Cup being his least important competition, it seems more likely he will take the rap tonight.

The Gunners will field a team of youngsters for the derby, with Wenger telling striker Carlos Vela he is being given "a massive opportunity".

Vela, 21, has only made 16 starts since arriving four years ago.

And Wenger said: "It's about starting the game, carrying the responsibility to be the main striker and showing you can deal with that.

"I believe Carlos can, but you have to turn up at the right moment.

"It's a massive opportunity for him."

But skipper Cesc Fabregas fears his hamstring problem will rule him out beyond the crunch Premier League clash with Chelsea on October 3.

The Spaniard was relieved that his hamstring was not torn which could have seen him miss six weeks.

And he said: "I have some fluid but nothing bad in the muscle.

"I hope I can be playing in two weeks."