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Michael Owen faces an anxious wait to see if he is to be punished for throwing a punch during Stoke City's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.
The former England forward, 33, appeared to strike Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta on the back after reacting angrily to a full-blooded challenge by the Spanish midfielder.
Referee Chris Foy awarded a free-kick to Arsenal but did not punish Owen with either a yellow or red card, which means retrospective action by the Football Association is possible.
Owen, capped 89 times for England during a stellar career with Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United, had come on as a late substitute for the Potters.
"Arteta's challenge was a poor challenge but Michael shouldn't do that," said his manager, Tony Pulis. "That should be left to the referee.
"We will see what they say. Obviously I'm going to be biased because this is my football club, my team. If Michael has done what they say he has done, then they will look at it."
Arsenal's 78th-minute winner was also controversial as initially it seemed as though it would be ruled out for offside, only for Foy to point to the centre circle after consulting an assistant.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he had not seen the Owen incident but he made it clear he was satisfied the officials had made the correct call over Podolski's goal.
"We were a bit lucky with the goal but overall we deserved this win," he said.
"I thought the linesman had given offside or maybe somebody from us had handled the ball. I have heard Walcott was offside but he was not interfering with the game."


Stoke's Michael Owen faces anxious wait over 'punch' against Arsenal

Stoke's Peter Crouch is beaten in an aerial challenge. Photo: AP

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Football

The former England forward, 33, appeared to strike Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta on the back after reacting angrily to a full-blooded challenge by the Spanish midfielder.
