Arsenal to decide over Toure's FA elbow charge

Arsenal were today deciding whether to contest Kolo Toure's Football Association violent conduct charge for allegedly elbowing Alan Shearer.

Toure, who is accused of elbowing Shearer in the back during Newcastle's 1-0 defeat at Highbury on Sunday, has until 6pm tonight to respond to the charge.

He must either accept an immediate threematch ban, which would rule him out of Saturday's FA Cup tie against Wolves, as well as Premiership games against Manchester United and Aston Villa, or request a hearing tomorrow. Arsenal were considering whether Toure should plead guilty in the hope of lessening the punishment or contest the charge with a view to being exonerated.

If the Ivory Coast defender is suspended, Pascal Cygan, who has been out for the past two months with a back injury, would need to recover his match fitness against Wolves in time to face United next Tuesday.

Cygan's last first-team involvement was at the end of November when he was an unused substitute in Eindhoven for a Champions League game. However, the Frenchman has recently played two reserve team matches.

Manager Arsene Wenger may decide to give Thierry Henry another breather on Saturday.

The star striker was left out of the third round win against Stoke and has also been receiving treatment for a thigh injury that forced him to miss training yesterday.