• Premier League

Arsenal to contest Wilshere ban

ESPN staff
December 19, 2013
Wilshere's wild gesture

Jack Wilshere has accepted an FA charge for misconduct over a hand gesture he apparently directed towards the Manchester City fans, but Arsenal are set to challenge the two-game ban which has been handed.

Wilshere was caught by television cameras raising a middle finger believed to be towards the City fans during Arsenal's 6-3 defeat on Saturday at the Etihad.

And while the club have accepted the charge from the FA, the Gunners are not pleased that he will miss two games, rather than one, using the example of Luis Suarez receiving just a one-game ban for committing the same offence.

The hearing will take place on Thursday, and Wilshere stands to miss the crucial Premier League clash at the Emirates against Chelsea on Monday night and the Boxing Day fixture with West Ham.

Arsenal believe that Wilshere being caught by video footage may have worked against him, whereas Suarez was snapped by photographers raising his finger when Liverpool took on Fulham at Craven Cottage two years ago.

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