by Andrew Fifield
LONDON (AFP) - Arsene Wenger could face a touchline ban from the English Football Association after being sent off at half-time in Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Portsmouth.
The Gunners manager was sent to the stands by referee Steve Bennett after protesting that a free-kick awarded to Portsmouth for a foul by Gael Clichy - which led directly to the visitors' opening goal - should have been awarded the other way.
Wenger has already provoked the ire of the authorities this season, having been fined 10,000 pounds and warned about his future conduct last week for a touchline confrontation with the former West Ham manager Alan Pardew.
If Bennett mentions this latest incident in his match report - which he is almost certain to do, as it resulted in Wenger spending the second half of Saturday's match in seats located just behind the Arsenal dug-out - then the FA could order him to miss parts of his side's busy Christmas schedule.
Wenger was anxious to play down the significance of the incident but he did admit confronting the officials in the tunnel.
"I complained for the free-kick because I didn't feel it was a free-kick but I didn't use any bad language," he said. "It didn't disturb me too much and I don't expect to be banned. Do you want me sent to jail?"
Harry Redknapp, the Portsmouth manager, was more forthcoming in his analysis of Wenger's latest tete-a-tete.
In addition to the Frenchman's tussle with Pardew in October, he became embroiled in a furious argument with Martin Jol, the Tottenham manager, during a heated north London derby in April and Redknapp believes Wenger finds it difficult to suppress his frustration when faced by adversity.
"The guys at the top are not used to losing, so maybe they find it hard to lose?" he said. "We can all be hospitable and lovely when we win but when we lose it's a different ball game.
"The rest of us are used to it: guys like myself have to accept it because our sides aren't good enough to win every week. The ones at the top probably get more frustrated in those situations."
Wenger's dismissal over-shadowed an enthralling match, which was transformed by the arrival of Emmanuel Adebayor shortly after half-time.
The Togo international had been named on the bench by Wenger, who was anxious not to overly exert his striker in the run-up to the festive period, but his introduction was necessitated by Portsmouth streaking into a two-goal lead.
In first-half injury time, Noe Pamarot headed in after David Thompson nodded Matt Taylor's free-kick onto the post; then, moments after the interval, Taylor seized on a bouncing ball and launched a spectacular volley into the top corner.
Adebayor was sent on less than 10 minutes later and within 180 seconds he had halved the deficit, converting Theo Walcott's cross from close range.
The 22-year-old then turned provider two minutes later, his cross causing havoc in Portsmouth's teetering defence before Gilberto gleefully smashed in the loose ball.
The Brazilian's strike saved Wenger from yet another miserable afternoon at the Emirates stadium, where his team have now dropped 10 Premiership points, although his mood was not helped by an injury to Freddie Ljungberg, who limped off with a hamstring strain after just five minutes.
"He will be out for the Christmas period," Wenger confirmed.









... He got an Awesome Eye for searchin new Risin Stars ... He really managed Arsenal So well ...
... But Still Wenger is Best ryte
?!?! Well bein gud makes pplz Jealous sometyms
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