Arsene Wenger pleads guilty to FA misconduct charge. Three match ban and hit with a £40,000 fine - meaning Steve Bould is on the bench for the next three matches.

Arsene Wenger is to serve a three-match touchline ban after admitting an FA misconduct charge after Arsenal’s game against West Brom at the Hawthorns on New Year’s Eve.

The long-serving Frenchman pleaded guilty to the charge of misconduct after confronting referee Mike Dean in the officials dressing room at the end of the contentious 1-1 draw.

A statement from the FA said: “Arsene Wenger will serve a touchline ban for Arsenal’s next three matches after he was charged with misconduct.

“It follows an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Friday] at which the Arsenal manager admitted that his language and behaviour in the match officials’ changing room after the West Brom game on Sunday was abusive, improper and questioned the integrity of the match referee.”

Wenger was furious with Dean awarding a penalty to the Baggies after former Gunner Kieran Gibbs fired the ball at defender Calum Chambers at clsoe range in the box.

The Gunners boss was also hit with a £40,000 fine - meaning Steve Bould is on the bench for Nottingham Forest on Sunday for the FA Cup third round match at the City Ground as well as Chelsea in the League Cup semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, and Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium a week on Sunday on the Premier League,