ARSES ALL SET TO PLAY THE SYSTEM

The following report from the Sun is likely to prove spot on. And with the Arses’ influence within the FA don’t be at all surprised if it turns out the “score” is evened up a little more with not just Neville called to account from OT.

The FA fear wily Arsene Wenger will manipulate their appeals procedure to soften the coming crackdown on his stars. Premiership leaders Arsenal could find themselves without SEVEN first-team regulars for next month’s showdown with second-placed Chelsea.

But boss Wenger is expected to try to squirm his way out of trouble by using the FA’s own rules on personal hearings to stagger the expected mass suspensions.

Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole and Lauren are likely to be formally charged today. Gunners skipper Patrick Vieira is already definitely out of the Chelsea crunch at Highbury on October 18.

And Sol Campbell is still waiting to be judged on the violent conduct charge from last month’s Community Shield date.

In theory, Wenger could be left minus his first-choice keeper, his entire back four and half of his midfield for the Blues’ visit.

He is expected to tell cited players to wait the full 14 days before responding to any FA charges and then further delay the disciplinary proceedings by requesting personal hearings. That would at least allow them to get Vieira’s one-match ban out of the way and possibly Campbell’s likely three-game ban.

Most of the five facing charges from Sunday are looking at two-match KOs.

Arsenal would like those punishments to take in the Carling Cup third-round game on October 29, when Wenger would rest his senior players anyway.

Under FA rules, a disciplinary hearing can only take place on a date which suits the FA committee members, the players involved, the referee, his assistants and any other witnesses.

That means it could even be the end of the year before the FA can come up with a hearing date convenient for all parties.

Yet sources within Soho Square insist they will not allow Arsenal to drag the process out.

Elsewhere FA chief executive Mark Palios was quoted:

“The FA’s disciplinary process is fundamental to everything that the governing body of the game stands for.

“The range of punishments for particular types of unacceptable behaviour need to be appropriate and be seen to be appropriate.

“Furthermore, the process must be as speedy as justice allows and certainly speedier than it has been in the past.

“We must concentrate on the time it takes to issue charges as well as to conclude cases.”