Ray Parlour and Patrick Vieira, dismissed during the game, must serve one-match bans; Ashley Cole was fined, and the club have been hit with a £175,000 (€255,000) penalty and warned about their future conduct for failing to control their players. All the suspensions start on November 17.

The Gunners admitted their players were in the wrong but said in a statement: “The club are currently considering their position as far as the penalties are concerned.

“Arsenal require their players to behave properly at all times, both on and off the field.

“The club accept what occurred during and immediately after the match fell well below the required standard.

“Arsene Wenger strives to ensure his players do not cross the line which divides committed play and improper or violent conduct.

“The players are instructed not to allow themselves to be provoked and are reminded their triumphs have come when they have not allowed themselves to be distracted from the game.”

Wenger’s men certainly allowed that to happen in a fiery encounter at the home of the champions five weeks ago.

The visitors – angered by Vieira’s dismissal for aiming a kick at Ruud van Nistelrooy – pushed, shoved and goaded the United striker when the final whistle sounded just seconds after he had missed a penalty.

Lauren, as well as a four-game ban, was fined £40,000 (€58,000) for one charge of violent behaviour – for pushing the Dutchman in the back – and two of improper conduct, for confronting van Nistelrooy and kicking out at Quinton Fortune.

Keown, ruled out for three matches, also receives a £20,000 (€29,000) fine. He faced one charge of violent behaviour towards van Nistelrooy.

Parlour, who admitted two charges of improper conduct for separate confrontations with van Nistelrooy and Gary Neville, must pay a £10,000 (€14,000) fine as well as serving a one-match suspension.

Vieira faced an improper conduct charge for failing to leave the field after being sent off and, as well as a one-match suspension, receives a £20,000 (€29,000) fine.

Cole faced a charge of improper conduct for a confrontation with Cristiano Ronaldo. He has been reprimanded, warned as to his future conduct and fined £10,000 (€14,000).

Because the bans do not start until mid-November, Lauren misses the Barclaycard Premiership trips to Birmingham and Leicester, the home match with Fulham and the Carling Cup clash with Wolves on December 2.

Keown is out of the above games with the exception of the Leicester match on December 6, while Parlour and Vieira will serve their suspensions when Arsenal are at St Andrews on November 22.

The Gunners and their players last night apologised for the bust-up which drew comparisons with the infamous melee when the same sides met at Old Trafford in October 1990.