Wenger leaps to Vieira's defence

Patrick Vieira has full support of his manager

An angry Arsene Wenger has vowed to defend Arsenal's midfielder Patrick Vieira after he was charged with misconduct by the Football Association.

Vieira's behaviour was called into question following the Gunners' controversial Premiership clash with Leeds United last month.

Wenger, who is already taking legal advice in an appeal over his own 12-match touchline ban imposed by the FA, said: "We have 14 days to respond to this charge.

"We will ask for a personal hearing and we will defend Patrick vigorously. I cannot accept the FA's stance."

Wenger surprise

The charge was on the recommendation of the FA's three-man Video Advisory Panel, who reviewed two incidents from the Elland Road game in which seven Arsenal players, but not Vieira, were booked by referee Dermot Gallagher.

Gallagher took no action over two separate incidents in the match involving Vieira and two Leeds players Olivier Dacourt and Eirik Bakke.

I would be very interested to know what Dermot Gallagher's recommendations on the incidents are

  Arsene Wenger

The statement noted that the referee had seen neither incident during the course of the game.

Vieira, already sent off six times for Arsenal, faces another three-match ban.

But Wenger insisted: "I do not believe the Football Association has made the right decision.

"I am very surprised that they have said the referee saw neither incident as it is evident that he was well positioned in each case.

Vieira's added pressure

"I also note that the FA has acted on advice from the video panel and not the referee. I would be very interested to know what Dermot Gallagher's recommendations on the incidents are."

"They will have to charge many more players if they charge Patrick. I don't know who is making the decisions any more."

The final decision on whether charges are laid wil be down to FA chief executive Adam Crozier.

As the Gunners prepare for Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, Wenger was confident Vieira would cope with the added pressure.

"People have talked before about whether he would finish with the English game because of these kind of problems but I have no fears about that," Wenger added.

"After he was suspended for a long time last season it is true he reacted negatively at first but in the end he was positive and just concentrated on getting back into the game."