Arsenal's Patrick Vieira has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association following a report from referee Andy D'Urso after the game against Chelsea on Sunday.

The France midfielder is accused of a breach of FA rule E2, which constitutes making abusive and/or insulting words to the match official.

Vieira, who was sent off during that game by D'Urso for two yellow card offences, has 14 days to respond to the charge.

The Gunners quickly decided to defend their captain.

A club statement read: "We will ask for a personal hearing where we will defend Patrick vigorously."

On Monday, Vieira lost his bid to have his red card against Chelsea overturned and is now facing a one-match ban.

Vieira has no right of appeal to the FA ruling and that means he will miss the match against Bolton on 21 September.

However, he may have been rested for that game anyway as it falls between two Champions League fixtures.

The French international had been hoping that D'Urso would reconsider his decision to hand him a red card for two bookable offences.

English champions Arsenal have already expressed disappointment that Vieira's sending-off cannot be overturned on video evidence under FA rules.

If found guilty Vieira faces a possible ban and/or suspension.

Vieira has been sent off eight times during his Highbury career.

Meanwhile, the FA are also to investigate claims that missiles were thrown on the pitch during Sunday's game.

"The FA can confirm that we have written to Chelsea for their observations concerning alledged incidents of missiles being thrown on to the pitch during their match with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge," read a statement on the FA's website.

Television replays showed a glass bottle thrown from a section of the stadium reserved for Arsenal fans, which narrowly missed Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola.

A coin also appeared to be hurled onto the pitch from the same area.