Vieira: Two more games out (JohnWalton/Empics)

Vieira was also fined £25,000 following the incident in a match against Chelsea.

FA regulations state the ban begins immediately, so Vieira will miss tomorrow's home match against Blackburn and the trip to Fulham on Sunday November 3.

A statement on the club website, www.arsenal.co.uk, read: `The club can confirm that we will not be appealing the FA's decision to suspend Patrick Vieira for two matches and fine him £25,000 following our match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last month.'

It was thought that, had Arsenal made an unsuccessful appeal, Vieira may have missed the December 7 clash with Manchester United.

Manager Arsene Wenger accepts Vieira's case was highlighted because he had just been sent off but feels the FA have now set themselves a dangerous precedent.

He said: `Patrick was in shock - he was very disappointed. He has been harshly treated, and he and I have both heard a lot worse on the pitch every Saturday when players have not been suspended.

`He said the referee had no personality, and - because the guidelines said the punishment should be two games - that's what he got.

`When you say in French that you have no personality, it's not a compliment but it's also not an insult. It means you are influenced by the crowd or the diving of Jesper Gronkjaer.

`That's what Patrick really meant. It was a very mild insult. But if they punish everyone the same way I could get them a few hearings for next week.

`You could find players to be punished for abusive language in every game.'

Wenger believes refereeing standards have improved but is still unsure why D'Urso, whose claim that Vieira had sworn at him was not accepted by the FA, launched the complaint at all.

`We don't want to say that we are being victimised, but I don't know what happened after the game that D'Urso felt he had to go further on,' he added.

`I don't know who pushed him to charge Patrick. Sometimes at the start of the season the referees go a little bit overboard.

`Having seen the two fouls again, common sense would have been that the player had been punished enough by getting red-carded - and he could have left this kind of charge.'

Graham Poll has not officiated an Arsenal game since the controversy over last season's home defeat by Newcastle, but Wenger insists that the club have no influence over the choice of officials.

`It is better not to put referees under too much pressure from the crowd but to keep them out for a while. But it's not been influenced by us at all,' he said, hinting he would not try to block the appointment of D'Urso.

Vice-captain David Seaman will captain Arsenal against Blackburn in Vieira's absence.

`It is a boost for him - a needed one but the right one. He takes a lot of responsibility in the dressing-room and is a real leader now,' said Wenger.