Gunners could face double suspension
Arsenal were tonight facing a potential double suspension blow after Jose Antonio Reyes was charged with violent conduct following his side’s FA Cup draw against Sheffield United.
Dennis Bergkamp is already facing a three-match ban after being sent off for a similar offence in the 1-1 draw at Highbury last Saturday.
If Reyes is also found guilty, Arsene Wenger’s side will be left without two key strikers for next week’s FA Cup replay, as well as Premiership games against Southampton and Portsmouth.
While Wenger seems resigned to Bergkamp losing his appeal, he is likely to be frustrated by the FA’s decision to charge Reyes for his part in the melee which followed Danny Cullip’s foul on Cesc Fabregas.
“We do not want to lose Reyes,” Wenger admitted at the weekend. “Reyes may be a yellow card but I don’t see why one case should be linked with the other.”
The Spaniard was nevertheless seen on television cameras, attempting to slap Andy Liddell, and referee Neale Barry confirmed he had not seen that incident clearly.
The FA therefore took action, with Arsenal confirming they will request a hearing on Thursday to contest the charge, even if Reyes is not allowed to attend in person under the "fast-track" rules.
Arsenal have also launched an appeal for wrongful dismissal for Bergkamp after his red card for raising his hands towards Cullip’s throat and that hearing is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
Wenger admitted: “Dennis raised his arm but he didn’t hit the player. Taken on the letter of the law, maybe he will be suspended.
“But if they use common sense, he won’t be suspended. Either way, we will accept what they do.
“He should not have done it at all but we have seen these kind of reactions before without the player being suspended for three games.”
Wenger believes Bergkamp, who is not in Munich for Arsenal’s Champions League tie as he does not fly, was simply trying to stand up for his younger team-mates after Cullip had appeared to stamp on Fabregas.
“We just felt that, considering what happened before on Cesc Fabregas and the fact he was captain, maybe he felt that he had to protect the young players and so he reacted like he did,” he added.
That, however, is no defence against his red card and if both he and Reyes are banned, Wenger will be left with Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie as his only recognised strikers for three games.
