Showdown scoresheet: Arsenal 6; Man United 2

Six Arsenal players and two from champions Manchester United have been charged with improper conduct after a bust-up in Sunday’s 0-0 dr...

Six Arsenal players and two from champions Manchester United have been charged with improper conduct after a bust-up in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, the Football Association (FA) said on Wednesday.

Arsenal, as a club, have been charged with misconduct, while the individual charges apply to defenders Ashley Cole, Martin Keown and Cameroon’s Lauren, German keeper Jens Lehmann, midfielder Ray Parlour and French skipper Patrick Vieira.

Lauren, who has been given two improper conduct charges, also faces a further two charges of violent behaviour, while Keown and Parlour also face one count of

violent behaviour each.

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United winger Ryan Giggs and Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo have also been charged with improper conduct, while team mate Phil Neville has been warned as to his future conduct.

Arsenal’s charge arises from the club’s failure to ensure the proper behaviour of the league leaders’ players.

All parties have 14 days to respond to the charges, the FA said on its website.

United issued a statement almost immediately, saying: “We have received the details of the charges from the FA and we are currently reviewing them internally with our lawyers, the manager and the players involved.

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“Until that review is completed, the club will be making no further comment.” The trouble at Old Trafford broke out after a late red card for Vieira.

At the final whistle, Keown leapt into Ruud van Nistelrooy in mock celebration, with United’s Dutch striker also being jostled by several other Arsenal players.