Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could be hit with a major defensive headache today if the Football Association come down hard on Lauren and Martin Keown for their parts in the ugly scenes at Old Trafford.
Although five Arsenal players were charged, Lauren and Keown are most at risk of receiving lengthy bans after pleading guilty to their parts in the goading of Ruud van Nistelrooy during and after Arsenal's draw at Manchester United last month.
Lauren could be suspended for up to five games after admitting one charge of violent behaviour and two charges of improper conduct. Keown, meanwhile, has admitted one charge of violent behaviour towards van Nistelrooy and, although another charge of improper conduct has been dropped, he still could face a three-match ban.
Arsenal's suspension problems would be further magnified if Ashley Cole and Ray Parlour were also hit with suspensions of one or two games, especially as this could seriously affect their line-up at Leeds this weekend.
Wenger will be hoping Cole and Parlour will receive fines after admitting charges of improper conduct and Patrick Vieira - who has pleaded guilty to a similar count - is injured in any case. While Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell could, fitness permitting, cover for Keown, Lauren would certainly be missed in defence over the coming weeks.
None of the five Arsenal players who have admitted charges were expected to attend today's hearing, with a club lawyer set to plead mitigation on their behalf, stressing their guilty pleas and remorse. That is stark contrast to the Manchester United duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs, who have vowed to fight their own misconduct charges at separate personal hearings.