Specifically: Ashley Cole, Patrick Vieira, and Ray Parlour (twice) have admitted to improper conduct charges. The charges of improper conduct and violent behaviour against Martin Keown have been merged into one charge of violent behaviour (which he admits), and Lauren has admitted to one charge of violent behaviour as well as 2 of improper conduct. A third charge of improper conduct (relating to his confrontation with Ryan Giggs after the final whistle) has been dropped.

The charge of improper conduct against Jens Lehmann has been dropped.

In addition, Arsenal FC has pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to ensure proper behaviour of its players.

We now await the punishment. Following the reduction of the Sol Campbell charge from violent behaviour to improper conduct, and the fact that it resulted in a fine but no ban, it would be reasonable to expect that Cole, Vieira, and Parlour will also only be fined. Keown and Lauren will surely receive bans, and they could be as long as 3 match bans.

The club itself will presumably be fined on the "failing to control" charge. But following the half-time incidents in Turkey at the weekend, one can only hope that the FA will feel suitably sheepish while declaring that punishment.

Man Utd, not content with having the actions of Gary Neville (threw an arm at Parlour) and Quinton Fortune (barged into Lehmann) totally ignored by the FA, have pleaded innocence with regard to the improper conduct charges levelled at Giggs and Ronaldo.

The FA have said that "dates for the hearings will be scheduled in due course", and it is thought that this will be sooner rather than later. There is some disagreement over whether or not the players will attend, with for example the Telegraph saying that Arsenal have requested personal hearings which the players will go to, while the Sun says that only Arsenal lawyers will be there, to plead mitigating circumstances (and possibly "there but for the grace of god go you") to try to get the punishments as low as possible. The Sun also reckon that Le Boss is unhappy with the guilty pleas. They say that he would have preferred to stand up for the players but the board insisted they take their punishment.

In a completely unrelated incident, some other team called Arsenal is currently top of the Premiership Fair Play League. Well, it couldn't possibly be us, could it? Arsenal fans are also third in the "fans' fair play league". Not sure what that is, I've never heard of it before. But I can't help feeling that being near the top of it means we're not trying hard enough.

Rupe adds...
Since writing the above, Arsene Wenger has made it clear that there is no split at Arsenal over these guilty pleas. "I knew about everything that was being submitted and everything was done with my knowledge and approval. We will still defend our players when they go to the FA hearing but I cannot say any more because it is subjudice."

See Standard.