News: The English Football Association hit Arsenal yesterday with an unprecedented 12 charges from Sunday's goalless draw at Old Trafford and hopes to deal with all the cases in one week to stop the club from staggering the hearings and thus avoid losing players to suspension at the same time.

Six Arsenal regulars could be banned for their behaviour against Manchester United, dealing a serious blow to their title hopes. Patrick Vieira, Lauren, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, Ashley Cole and Jens Lehmann are in danger of being suspended for 19 games between them.

Arsene Wenger is said by Arsenal to have spoken to his squad about their failure to match the behaviour expected of them. But a bad day for the manager was compounded when he was asked by the FA for an explanation of his comments after Sunday's game, during which he accused Ruud van Nistelrooy of cheating.

"Van Nistelrooy does not help himself," he said. "He's a great player but his attitude is always provoking and diving.

"He looks a nice boy but, on the pitch, he doesn't always show fair behaviour."

Lauren has been charged on four counts, which is believed to be a record, and could be banned for eight matches. He is accused, among other things, of kicking Quinton Fortune and pushing van Nistelrooy. There is no experienced, natural understudy to him at right back.

Keown and Parlour face possible four-match bans, while Cole, Lehmann and Vieira each run the risk of missing one domestic fixture.

Vieira is already preparing to sit out a game for his sending-off at Old Trafford, but he faces a further charge for confronting van Nistelrooy and engaging in a verbal row with the fourth official.

The players' charges relate to violent behaviour and/or improper conduct. Effectively, each violent conduct charge carries a possible three-game ban and each case of improper conduct could result in a one-match suspension or fine.

Arsenal's season could be severely hit by their loss of control against their main rivals.

The club would doubtless be keen to employ delaying tactics to spread out the players' hearings and consequently any bans, but the FA is keen to deal with all the cases in a block of three or four days.

Arsenal have also been charged with failing to control their players. If found guilty they can expect a hefty fine.

United could also suffer repercussions from last weekend's events, which boiled over after the final whistle following a penalty miss by van Nistelrooy.

The club are reported to be shocked and incensed that Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo also face possible one-game suspensions after being charged.

Alex Ferguson was said to be "apoplectic", and United's lawyers will be under instructions to clear the two players of any wrongdoing.

It is Wenger, though, who has most to worry about. The way some of his players reacted at the final whistle could haunt him. Lauren, Keown and Parlour are all accused of violent conduct after the finish.

The defence will be especially badly hit if Lehmann, Lauren, Cole and Keown are banned at the same time.

Arsenal could recall the right back Moritz Volz from Fulham before his loan ends on January 1st if necessary. Their understudy centre halves are Kolo Toure, Pascal Cygan and the untried Philippe Senderos and Stathis Tavlaridis.

Arsenal accept they behaved intolerably.

"The board is taking this matter seriously and intends to meet in the near future to further discuss the events of last Sunday," the club said.

"At this juncture we do not have the video evidence supplied to the FA and are not going to jump to any premature conclusions.

"The club demands high standards both on and off the field and the board believes these were not met last Sunday. Arsene Wenger has already addressed the players on this issue."

In a letter to Arsenal fans about events at Old Trafford Wenger made no apology for the behaviour of his players, saying that a "generous penalty" had "provoked a lot of incidents". He praised his team's "great spirit".

No one at Highbury will be surprised by the charges, but United are furious not just that Giggs and Ronaldo have been singled out but that Phil Neville has received an official warning as to his future conduct when television pictures do not appear to show him in conflict with any Arsenal player.

If anything, Gary Neville was the one United player with genuine concerns that he might face disciplinary action, having tried to confront Keown.

"To say we're flabbergasted is an understatement," said a United source. "Generally we believe the behaviour of our players was exceptional in very trying circumstances, so this has come as a complete shock."

Guardian Service