Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger fighting to avoid stadium ban

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Arsene Wenger will hope his ban is restricted to two games from the touchline when he sits in front of a Football Association disciplinary panel on Friday.

The Arsenal manager has accepted an FA charge of misconduct following his touchline tirade in Sunday’s win over Burnley. He was sent off after a spat with referee Jon Moss before pushing fourth official Anthony Taylor.

Wenger has requested a personal hearing in an attempt to mitigate the punishment. He will almost certainly be suspended, with FA chiefs considering a stadium ban. However, it seems likely the Frenchman will face a lengthy touchline ban. 

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be hoping his ban is restricted to two matches

The Frenchman was sent to the stands by referee Jon Moss on Sunday afternoon

In 2012 then Newcastle boss Alan Pardew was fined £20,000 and handed a two-match touchline ban for pushing an assistant referee during a match against Tottenham.

Such a ban would mean Wenger would not be in the dug-out for Staurday’s FA Cup-tie against Southampton and Tuesday’s Premier League fixture against Watford, but he would return for next weekend’s top-of-the-table clash against runaway leaders Chelsea.

Asked on Thursday whether he will accept the charge, Wenger said: ‘Yes. I’m big enough to know when I do well and when I do not do well. I am a passionate guy. I am completely committed in my job and want to win football games.

‘If I am punished, the only thing I can say is when I was sent off, I was surprised and I was in the tunnel because I thought I had the right to be in the tunnel.

‘Last time I was sent off, wrongly, in 2009, I had to go in the stand at Old Trafford. I didn’t know where to go. No-one tells you what you have to do. The guidelines need to be clearer because you don’t know where to go.’  

The Arsenal boss clashed with fourth official Anthony Taylor during the win over Burnley

Meanwhile, Wenger confirmed he has spoken to Granit Xhaka after the midfielder was accused of racially abusing a member of British Airways staff at Heathrow Airport on Monday night.

‘I have talked with him about it and he completely denies it,’ said Wenger.

Wenger, though, admits he is concerned by Xhaka’s disciplinary record and has told his midfielder not to jump into tackles.

Granit Xhaka (pictured being given his marching orders against Swansea) was sent off for the second time this season against Burnley on Sunday

The £34million summer signing was sent off for the second time this season for a lunge on Steven Defour on Sunday and will miss the next four matches.

Wenger added: ‘It was not a dangerous tackle, it was a clumsy tackle. My concern is more about his tackling technique. He’s not naturally a great tackler. The way he tackles is not convincing.

‘I would encourage him not to tackle, to stay on his feet. That’s the best way to deal with it.’