• FA Cup

McLeish demands action over Van Persie elbow

Alex McLeish has called on the FA to investigate an incident involving match-winner Robin van Persie and Carlos Cuellar during Aston Villa's 3-2 FA Cup defeat at Arsenal.

Van Persie inspired the Gunners' dramatic victory, scoring a brace to help turn around a 2-0 half-time deficit. McLeish, though, felt referee Mike Jones should have taken action against the Dutchman when centre-back Cuellar was caught in the face by a stray elbow during the second half.

"I thought it was a clear elbow, but the referee did not seem to think there was anything in it," McLeish said. "I thought he put the elbow towards Carlos' face. The big man is not a guy to lie down; he got up pretty quickly."

McLeish added that he would like the FA to look at it, saying: "Yes, if it was an elbow in the face - look at my face and my nose is a result of elbows all my career. It is something which is dangerous.

"I never mentioned it to the referee. I saw it in real time. I don't like to point the finger at players, but it has happened to mine enough times."

If Van Persie is charged by the FA, he could face a three-match ban - something Arsenal would prefer to avoid as they attempt to stay firmly in the hunt for fourth place in the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Van Persie said he was grateful for "a crazy six minutes'' which saw Arsenal claim their place in the fifth round.

Van Persie added: "It was very important. At 2-0 down, it's always going to be a hard task to come back. But a crazy six minutes in the second half changed the game.

"Credit to the team. We all did it. Credit to all of them because we worked hard and we're still in it.''

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