NEWS: Arsenal winger Robert Pires was last night accused of being involved in a tunnel fracas with Newcastle United coach John Carver at the end of Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final at St James' Park.

Carver claims the incident happened after Newcastle midfielder Jamie McClen tackled the Frenchman late in the game.

The Newcastle coach told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "All I was doing was protecting Jamie McClen, which I see as part of my job.

"Pires is well-travelled and an experienced international while McClen is really just a kid."

Pires was involved in a flare-up with Leeds United manager David O'Leary last season. In the league clash at Elland Road on November 26th 2000, Pires and O'Leary exchanged words after the Irishman blew a kiss towards the French star at the end of the match.

They almost came to blows in the foyer as Pires walked past O'Leary during a radio interview and the Leeds boss repeated the gesture. Pires had to be restrained by team-mates as he shouted a French expletive at O'Leary before the incident was defused.

The St James' Park fracas is the latest in a long list involving Arsenal players. Last week Thierry Henry was banned for three matches following an incident in the Premiership game against Newcastle on December 18th when Henry had to be restrained by team-mates and police officers after attempting to confront referee Graham Poll at the end of the match.

And tomorrow midfielder Patrick Vieira faces an FA hearing for allegedly elbowing Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.