Wenger, Nasri charged by UEFA

UEFA have charged Arsene Wenger and Samir Nasri with improper conduct after both made comments to the referee after Arsenal’s loss to Barcelona.

Leading the Champions League round-of-16 tie 2-1 after the first leg at the Emirates, Arsenal slumped to a 3-1 loss at the Nou Camp on Wednesday and were sent tumbling out the the competition at the hands of Barca for the second successive season.

Their plight was compounded by the sending off of Dutch striker Robin van Persie after he received a second yellow card for time wasting – a decision which infuriated manager Wenger.

Van Persie fired a shot at goal moments after referee Massimo Busacca had blown his whistle for offside and the official responded by handing the Dutchman his second caution, prompting Wenger and midfielder Nasri to confront Busacca in the tunnel after the game.

Wenger labelled the decision to dismiss van Persie as ’embarrassing’ and claimed UEFA’s officials present at the game were shocked by the sending off.