WENGER FINED

Though the fine won't hurt his bank balance Wenger won't take kindly to being the recipient of the biggest fine ever handed out to a manager. With the FA still monitoring the simmering row between United and Arsenal Wenger will have to watch his gob. From Torygraph: Arsenal made an ignominious piece of history yesterday when Arsène Wenger was fined £15,000 - a record for a manager - and severely reprimanded by the Football Association after he was found guilty of improper conduct.

The charge related to comments made by Wenger, who implied Ruud van Nistelrooy was a cheat after Manchester United's 2-0 victory at Old Trafford in October had ended Arsenal's record 49-game unbeaten Premiership run. Despite being a record fine for a manager, many will feel Wenger got off lightly, given that `cheat' is one of the biggest insults that can be levelled, but the punishment is what the Frenchman would have expected under such circumstances.

Managers who abuse referees by calling them cheats are usually fined about £10,000 while a touchline ban is handed out only for pitchside misdemeanours. It was Wenger's second misconduct charge - the first came following a game at Sunderland in August 2000, an incident involving fourth official Paul Taylor in the tunnel. He had a 12-match touchline ban and a £10,000 fine reduced on appeal to £10,000 plus costs.

Wenger, who was not present for yesterday's hearing, will not appeal against the verdict or punishment, said: "Now is the time to move on. We have an important match coming up and all my thoughts are focused on our preparation for the visit to Portsmouth on Sunday."