Arsenal Football Club

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
• Capacity:60432

Nasri escapes FA censure

23 Dec 2009 - 12:47:31

Click To Enlarge

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri will not be punished by the Football Association for his alleged stamp on Richard Garcia during the Gunners' 3-0 win against Hull City on Saturday.

The 22-year-old French midfielder sparked a melee between a host of players when he appeared to tread on Garcia's foot and was booked by referee Steve Bennett.

The official has since reviewed the events using videotape footage but has decided that the incident did not warrant a red card.

Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his side will be affected by next month's African Cup of Nations.

Wenger will be without Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboue and Cameroon's Alex Song for the January tournament that takes place in Angola.

A rueful Gunners boss said: "I would rather plan without an African Nations Cup every two years. We plan to cover their absence with the players we have in the squad. Fortunately, this year we only have two who go to the tournament.

"Sometimes we have had worse periods than that but we still lose two quality players.

"On occasions, the players come back affected by a negative experience. Sometimes they come back very tired and that depends on the climate and the number of games they have played.

"The effects are not necessarily seen during the period that they are out there but it can have consequences on their form for the rest of their season."