Arsene Wenger 'hurt' by three-game touchline ban ahead FA Cup clash with Nottingham Forest... and believes replays should not be scrapped

  • Arsene Wenger engaged in a post-match row with referee Mike Dean on Sunday
  • The Arsenal boss was left frustrated after his side's draw at West Brom
  • Wenger was handed a three-game touchline ban for his actions after the game
  • The Frenchman accepted the decision but admitted it was hard to take
  • He will be forced to watch their FA Cup trip to Nottingham Forest from the stands

Arsene Wenger has admitted Sunday will be a day of 'hurt' when he watches Arsenal begin their FA Cup defence from a distance.

Wenger serves the first match of a three-game touchline ban at Nottingham Forest, issued over his behaviour in the referee's changing room after last Sunday's draw at West Brom.

The Arsenal boss continues to insist his actions were nothing extraordinary, compared to what he has seen in 21 years of Premier League management, but he has accepted the suspension.

Arsene Wenger is preparing to serve the first of his three-game touchline ban on Sunday

Arsene Wenger is preparing to serve the first of his three-game touchline ban on Sunday

'It always hurts me not to sit on the bench and be with my team,' Wenger said.


Wenger will also miss the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea on Wednesday and a league meeting with Bournemouth next Sunday.

He will select Sunday's team but will not be allowed to govern Arsenal from the touchline.

'Some players who played against Chelsea (on Wednesday) will play on Sunday,' Wenger said.

The Arsenal boss was issued the ban after engaging in a dressing room row with Mike Dean

The Arsenal boss was issued the ban after engaging in a dressing room row with Mike Dean

Wenger accepted the ban but claimed his actions were not extraordinary in English football

Wenger accepted the ban but claimed his actions were not extraordinary in English football

The Arsenal boss also went on to defend the FA Cup format, claiming it would be wrong to axe replays — even if his choice to field a weakened Arsenal team allows Forest to force a third-round rematch.

Wenger has won a record seven FA Cups including three of the last four and Arsenal begin their latest defence at the City Ground.

While other managers were cursing their luck over replays on Saturday night, Wenger suggested it is time to stop moaning over the additions to the schedule.

The Gunners boss will also sit out Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea

The Gunners boss will also sit out Arsenal's Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea

The Cup veteran says the big clubs have squads to deal with the additional fixtures, even in this hectic mid-section of the season.

Replays have already been scrapped from the quarter-finals onwards but Wenger values them as a route to silverware.

For that reason, the Frenchman would much rather add another game to the calendar instead of binning Arsenal's Cup hopes without a second scrap with Forest.

Ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash Wenger defended the competitions replay format

Ahead of Sunday's FA Cup clash Wenger defended the competitions replay format

'Overall, if you gave me the choice of whether to go out or to replay I'd still want to replay,' Wenger said.

'I wouldn't abolish them. I think they helped us a little bit to win this trophy so overall we have a squad who can deal with that. Many people want to cut it, I personally am not in favour.'

Wenger will make changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Chelsea in midweek, conceding that keeping the same team through the current glut of fixtures would be impossible.

He insisted it would be wrong to scrap replays having helped his side in recent years

He insisted it would be wrong to scrap replays having helped his side in recent years

David Ospina will start in goal, while 20-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be pushed into midfield at the heart of a youthful side.

But having bred FA Cup success in recent years Wenger says there will no be shortage of motivation.

'This club is hugely focused in these games,' he said. 'We have to be absolutely ready. I've been in England long enough to know what to expect on Sunday.'