Petit has reportedly claimed that he was provoked with "racist" taunts but it seems unlikely that this will cut much mustard. A Villa official was sat close to the incident and he rejects the "racist" claim.

Petit has said, "There were many racist comments shouted at me - French this and French that. To be honest I am fed up with it. It was racism directed at me."

Are we to take it that Manu considers being called "French" an insult? Surely he understands that when people abuse him they shove a "French" in because they know it pisses him off, because he's made it so public that it does. This has made him the prime Arsenal target for opposition fans' abuse.

We have it on good authority (from a Villa fan in fact) that Petit was indeed subjected to incessant abuse yesterday, questioning his sexuality and targetting his appearance and his nationality. It'll be interesting to see if the FA acknowledge any provocation.

But the big question for Arsenal fans has to be, why did he seem so fed up beforehand.