Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has apologised for his players' behaviour at Manchester United last Sunday but insists the affair has been blown out of all proportion by the media.

The Football Association (FA) has charged six Arsenal players and two United men with improper conduct after the ugly scenes at the end of Sunday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford when a series of Arsenal players confronted United's Ruud van Nistelrooy.

"I thought we over-reacted after the game and we apologise for that. I think we have to keep control of our behaviour in every situation," Wenger told reporters at the club's training ground on Thursday.

"On the other hand, you could say the media response was over-reaction as well. It is not in proportion at all to what happened. That's maybe not surprising, but it's not right either.

"We have to be conscious we didn't behave in a perfect way, as we should have but as well not to be victimised by what the media say. We have to look at things with the right distance."

As for the pushing and shoving which went on at Old Trafford, he said: "If one of my players had tackled somebody round the throat or hit somebody in the face in the game, I would feel much more shocked than I am.

"After seven years in English football I have witnessed situations that were 10 times worse and were not punished.

"That doesn't mean we were right," said the Frenchman. "But it does mean some people get away with things here that they shouldn't get away with."

Defenders Ashley Cole, Martin Keown and Cameroon's Lauren, German keeper Jens Lehmann, midfielder Ray Parlour and French skipper Patrick Vieira were charged with improper conduct.

Lauren also faces a further two charges of violent behaviour, while Keown and Parlour also face one count of violent behaviour each and Arsenal were also charged with misconduct as a club.

United winger Ryan Giggs and Portuguese midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo have also been charged with improper conduct, while their team mate Phil Neville was warned over his future behaviour.

The FA have also written to Wenger for an explanation of his comments about Van Nistelrooy.

The Dutch striker was at the centre of much of Sunday's trouble, being booked for a wild challenge on Vieira that earned the Frenchman a red card for his retaliation, and then, after hitting the bar with an injury-time penalty, being mobbed by gloating Arsenal players.

Wenger accused Van Nistelrooy of cheating by over-reacting to Vieira's attempted kick.