Arsenal's French midfielder Emmanuel Petit, charged with misconduct for allegedly making an obscene gesture to Aston Villa fans in Sunday's Premier League match, said he was considering leaving England.

"It is far too early to discuss it. But one thing is for sure - I'm asking that question to myself every day," Petit said in a French newspaper, France Soir, in an interview yesterday.

About his gesture, Petit said: "When I sat on the bench I was forced to cope with a lot of racist insults. I cracked up."

The French international said he was fed up with being repeatedly insulted in Premier League matches. "When you eat porridge every day, there comes a time when you can't take any more," he said.