Arsenal and Man City face FA charges after player misdemeanour

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By Martin Graham | 19th Feb 2023

The FA has charged Arsenal and Manchester City for the conduct of their players in their midweek Premier League game at the Emirates.

The two top teams in the 2022/23 Premier League season met on Wednesday at the home of the Gunners with only three points separating them. Manchester City ran out 3 – 1 winners on the night, closing the gap to zero points and snatching the top spot from Arsenal on goal difference.

The match was heated thanks to the stakes involved and it saw a lot of unrest when the ball was not in play. The fans got involved as well, as some of them threw things onto the pitch to the chagrin of the officials.

The outcome of the match displeased the FA who charged both teams for failing to control their players. A statement from the FA announcing the charges reads: “Arsenal and Manchester City have been charged after their players surrounded the match official at different times during the Premier League fixture on Wednesday February 15.

“It’s alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion, with Arsenal’s players surrounding the match official during the 56th minute and Manchester City’s doing so during the 42nd and 64th minutes.

“Both clubs have until Tuesday 21 February to provide their respective responses.”

Arsenal was charged on the count of their players surrounding the referee when he awarded a penalty against Gabriel Magalhaes for a foul on Erling Haaland, before it was ruled out for offside.

City on the other hand, was charged for two incidents. The first is for their protests when referee Anthony Taylor awarded a penalty against their goalkeeper Ederson for a foul on Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah, despite Nketiah getting his shot away. The second is for their players’ reaction to Nketiah not receiving more than a yellow card for a challenge on defender Ruben Dias.

Both teams, however, will turn their attention to Premier League football at the weekend as they attempt to better their fortunes in the race to the Premier League title.

Arsenal travel to Aston Villa on Saturday for the early kickoff while City travel to Nottingham Forest later on the same day.

City could go three points clear if they win and Arsenal loses and that is an outcome that Mikel Arteta will be hoping to avoid. However, he has a safe landing with his game in hand which Pep Guardiola will also be wary about.