Wenger : FA are trying to ruin our FA cup bid

Arsene Wenger has accused the Premier League of trying to scupper Arsenal's bid to win the FA Cup with their scheduling of the Ashley Cole hearing.
The hearing into Chelsea's alleged "tapping" of Cole will take place on 17 and 18 May - days before the final.

The Gunners boss said: "I've asked for it to be postponed as I'm worried about our Cup final preparations but the Premier League said 'no'."

He also argued it had been delayed to ensure Chelsea won the title.

Cole is alleged to have met with Chelsea officials on 2 February, three-and-a-half months before the hearing date.

"If you sit down in May to judge something that happened in February, it's better to do nothing," said Wenger.

"For me, they didn't want to do anything. If you told me tomorrow that 'it's all cancelled and Chelsea are cleared', I would say it's better than organising a hearing in the week leading up to the FA Cup final. I would accept it.

Chelsea won the title and they deserved to win it

Arsene Wenger

"The hearing should have been in March. Then we would have found out if they were guilty or not, and they could have been given a punishment or nothing at all.

"I would have accepted that, but I don't see the interest now in us being in a hearing in May. That it is just before the Cup final - what a coincidence."

Arsenal are due to meet Manchester United in the final on 21 May at the Millennium Stadium.

Despite his outburst, Wenger insisted he had no desire to take away Chelsea's Premiership win this season.

"Chelsea won it and they deserved to win it," he said. "But the Premier League has waited until Chelsea already have the trophy in their hands, so they cannot take it away from them.

"When you want to punish a team and the championship is over, what can you do? Any penalty will have no impact on the championship race."

The hearing had initially been due to take place on 26 and 27 April but was put back due to the "availability of members of the commission".

The Premier League also cited the "complexity of the defence" from both sides for the delay.

Despite Cole's alleged involvement in the affair, Wenger said he was hopeful the England defender would stay at Highbury. His current contract lasts until 2007.

Stop winging Wenger and get on with it!

stupid bloody whingin git.

Just coz hes gonna lose means hes already makin excuses....