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FA asks Arsenal's Arsene Wenger to explain comments on referees

Arsene Wenger has been asked by the Football Association to provide observations about his comments before and after Arsenal's game against Chelsea, the governing body has said.

Wenger complained about two penalties awarded against the Gunners, the first to West Brom on Sunday and the second to Chelsea on Wednesday. Both Premier League matches ended in draws.

Wenger now has until 6 p.m. on Tuesday to respond.

The Arsenal manager has said he intends to appeal against the separate FA charge relating to his behaviour after last weekend's 1-1 draw at West Brom, when defender Calum Chambers was penalised by referee Mike Dean for a handball.

Arsenal conceded another late penalty against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium as Eden Hazard went down following a challenge from Hector Bellerin. The game ended in a 2-2 draw, with the Gunners getting a stoppage-time equaliser.

Press Association Sport reported that the FA's latest action relates particularly to Wenger's apparent suggestion there may be a conspiracy against his team.

He said before the game against Chelsea: "I must say what is more frustrating for me is that it happened many times this season -- at Stoke, at Watford, at Manchester City, at West Brom. That is a concerning coincidence for me."

On Dean's decision to penalise Chambers, Wenger added: "He saw what he wanted to see and we have to deal with that."

After the draw with Chelsea, Wenger told Sky Sports: "When opinions always go the same way it's coincidence. Statistically it's built on the fact that when it's repeated it's not coincidence."

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