Arsène Wenger has been charged by the Football Association with using "insulting and/or abusive language and behaviour amounting to improper conduct" at the end of Arsenal's match against Sunderland on Saturday. If the manager is found guilty he is likely to face a substantial fine and a touchline ban.

He has been charged for his conduct after Sunderland's late equaliser when he appeared to place his hands on the shoulder of the fourth official Martin Atkinson.

The Arsenal manager had earlier sarcastically patted Atkinson on the back after the midfielder Alex Song was sent off. "Take the pictures and look at it. I complained to nobody," said Wenger on Saturday night.