Arsene Wenger 'surprised' by Burnley red card - but insists he has no intentions of reining in his 'passion'

The Frenchman was sent to the stands against Burnley on Sunday after protesting a penalty decision made in favour of the visitors

Despite admitting he was 'surprised' by the red card, Wenger revealed he won't be contesting the FA's subsequent charge of 'improper conduct' (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has admitted he was “surprised” by the red card he was shown after allegedly directing abusive or insulting language towards fourth official Anthony Taylor during Sunday’s game against Burnley - but insists he has no intentions of reining in his “passionate” side.

The Arsenal manager was sent to the stands in the closing stages of Sunday’s Premier League match after protesting against Burnley’s late penalty, which was converted by striker Andre Gray to level the score at 1-1.

The Frenchman initially attempted to watch the remainder of the game from the entrance of the tunnel and, when he was told to move away by Taylor, appeared to make physical contact with the official.

The Football Association charged Wenger with “improper conduct” on Monday but the Arsenal boss admits he was “surprised” by the dismissal.

“I don’t know if I will be punished and how I will be punished,” he said on Thursday ahead of Arsenal’s fourth-round FA Cup tie with Southampton.

“If I am punished, the only thing I can say is that I thought when I was sent off I was surprised and I was in the tunnel because I thought I had the right to be in the tunnel.

“Last time I was sent off wrongly, in 2009, I had to go in the stand at Old Trafford and I didn’t know where to go. No one tells you what you have to do when you are sent off.”

Nonetheless, Wenger revealed he would not contest the decision.

When asked if he would accept the charge, he replied: "Yes, I've answered that in the press conference, there's not more to add. I've been in England for 20 years, I have seen a lot on the bench, as you certainly know.

"I think if I am after 34 years still in the job it is because I am big enough to stand up for what I do. And as well, I'm big enough to know when I do well and when I do not do well. So that's it.”

Wenger is expected to be hit with a fine and a suspension after Alan Pardew was banned for two matches and fined £20,000 after accepting an improper conduct charge following a similar incident in August 2012 when he pushed assistant referee Peter Kirkup.

The Arsenal manager confirmed he will request a personal hearing to answer the charge but refused to divulge what he would say to the FA panel.

Even so, Wenger made it clear that he no regrets over his show of passion which saw him clash with the game’s officials.

Arsene Wenger was sent to the stands late in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Burnley (Getty)

Indeed, he insisted he was not surprised by his own reaction in Sunday’s game: “No, I am a passionate guy and I believe that I am completely committed in my job and want to win football games and I am completely passionate about it, like all the managers who work in the Premier League.”

And what about the old saying that people become more mellow with age? “I haven’t been touched by that yet,” he quipped.