SAINTS could face an Arsenal side in the FA Cup final shorn of key defender Sol Campbell through suspension.

Campbell is set to be handed a four-match suspension after being sent off for an alleged elbow on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during last night's 2-2 draw with Manchester United at Highbury.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger angrily described the red card as a "complete joke".

Wenger was also forced to come to terms with the possibility influential midfielder Patrick Vieira may be out for a couple of weeks with a recurring knee injury after coming off last night.

Campbell is left waiting on the outcome of an appeal, with referee Mark Halsey set to review his decision to dismiss the centre-back for an apparent elbow

"I admit that I touched him, but it wasn't deliberate. It's not as though I swung my elbow at him," declared Campbell.

"It's tough. My whole season could hinge on this and I've worked so hard to get this far.''

As Campbell has already been sent off once this season - for a foul on Agustin Delgado during Arsenal's 3-2 Premiership loss at St Mary's last November - he will, barring an appeal victory, now earn a three-match ban for violent conduct, as well as another game for his second dismissal.

That would rule him out of the last three league games against Leeds, Southampton and Sunderland, as well as the FA Cup final in Cardiff.

"Sol is destroyed as he can't understand it," fumed Wenger.

"Everyone who knows him in the dressing-room knows that he didn't touch Solskjaer on purpose.

"What is his interest in doing Solskjaer with an elbow? He had the ball and just wanted to gain an extra yard to give the ball by pushing his arm out, which 99 per cent of players do.

"I can show you some straight elbows against us, which were really dangerous, but this was definitely an accidental one. I'm very disappointed.

"In training, I've seen him in extreme situations. He doesn't hit or kick anyone. It's a complete joke.

"Frankly, I still can't believe it. I would love us to play Manchester United again and a linesman to do that to Manchester United as I've never seen it."

While Sir Alex Ferguson warned that elbows are on the increase in the game, Wenger was also left to contemplate the possible loss of an equally important player - captain Vieira. The Frenchman passed a fitness test on his knee to face United but came off after just 34 minutes, which Wenger admitted was "disturbing".

The Arsenal boss added: "I don't know how long he will be out for. I have left him in and out. The only thing I can say is that isn't the solution as it hasn't got rid of the pain.

"So we have to rest him until he's completely free of pain..

"It's not an operation, it's an inflammation from a kick, and bone bruising can last anything from two weeks to three months.

"He's had it since we played Roma in mid-March and I don't know how long it will last.

"I accept that much better as, even if Patrick is a huge player, you can have injuries in football but the other one (Campbell) is completely unacceptable and difficult to understand."

Ferguson, meanwhile, referred to the incident in which he had accused Alan Shearer of elbowing Roy Keane last weekend at St James' Park.

"I'm getting really concerned about elbows. Someone is going to get a serious injury as it's happening far too often," he insisted.

Ferguson also insisted that Arsenal's second goal was two yards offside.

United continue to lead the way by three points with four games left, but Arsenal have a match in hand - against Saints at Highbury on May 7 - and the slightest of advantages on goal difference.

Although Ferguson's side seized the lead through Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Gunners hit back through two goals by Thierry Henry before Ryan Giggs equalised just 22 seconds later.

The United boss said: "From a neutral's point of view, it was absorbing. From a manager's point of view, I need a good night's sleep now!

"I'm proud of my players. In the first-half, in particular, they were fantastic. I'm surprised that we didn't settle the issue as we were the better team.

"The first Arsenal goal was a deflection. It's a big boost to get a lucky goal like that.

"The second, which I've just seen again on television, was two yards offside. It's hard to recover from that but they showed their character and got back to deserve a point."

Henry is now level with Saints ace James Beattie on 21 Premiership goals as the race for the top flight's Golden Boot hots up.

Van Nistelrooy is just two behind on 19 after his goal last night.