...Patrick Vieira has been charged with misconduct by the FA, over the alleged elbowing of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink at Highbury on Boxing Day.

Paddy has 3 days to appeal, and if he loses he will probably face a 14 match ban. Or is the the other way round?

Meanwhile Hasselbaink himself is also charged with committing the same offence of Southampton's Lundekvam this month. Leeds have 2 players charged: Smith and Viduka, the latter for yet another raised arm against Martin Keown.

Both the Leeds players have already asked for personal hearings. There are suggestions that Keown may do so too, being somewhat offended at not finding himself on their list.

Meanwhile Graeme Souness, who only yesterday was saying that Arsenal aren't a dirty team, seems to have had his mind changed by something or other. Quoting Corporal "Jonesy" Jones from Dad's Army, the Blackburn Rovers manager seems to think that Arsenal "don't like it up 'em". Trying to deflect attention from a home loss against 10 men methinks. Stupid boy.

But Arsene Wenger advises against panicking, he reckons Rovers are too good to go down.

He also provides the following excellent statement of intent: "The referee makes his decision. When we have players sent off even if we think they are wrong we accept it, we don't say a word we just play on and win the games." Quite right, and it's even been true recently (Thierry Henry seems to have learned his lesson about not protesting dodgy cards. But then, he is getting plenty of practice). Arsenal can win the league despite all this.

The Arse don't like it up 'em? We'll see about that.