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Manager says his side have the belief and momemtum to guarantee their place in the Barclays Premier League

An acrimonious FA Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium last night ended in bitter controversy when Cesc Fàbregas, the Arsenal midfield player, was accused of spitting at Brian Horton, the Hull City assistant manager.

In the wake of Hull’s 2-1 defeat, Fàbregas immediately issued a firm denial, telling Arsenal’s official website: “I categorically deny that I spat at anybody after the match. I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?

“I can understand the frustration of losing a game to a dubious goal, that has happened to me many times in my career as well. But this is not the fault of me or any of the Arsenal players.”

The allegation was made by Phil Brown, the Hull manager, who also launched an outspoken attack on the character of Arsène Wenger and his club. The Football Association seems certain to investigate his comments.

Brown also heavily implied that his side had been cheated by Mike Riley, the referee, after William Gallas scored the winning goal from what television replays suggested was an offside position. Robin van Persie had earlier cancelled out Nicky Barmby’s opener to put Arsenal on their way to a semi-final against Chelsea at Wembley on April 18.

“Fàbregas spat at our assistant manager,” Brown claimed. “I was there, I witnessed it, he spat at my assistant manager down the tunnel. That’s their club captain. Hopefully he’s proud of himself. He spat at his feet. My club captain wouldn’t do that and I’m not bothered if he apologises. For Arsenal’s club captain to spit at my assistant shows you what this club is all about.”

Brown was equally concerned at the behaviour of Wenger. He alleged that the Arsenal manager refused to shake his hand on the final whistle and claimed that such a snub was common practice.

“Arsène never shakes my hand,” Brown said. “It’s normal etiquette, maybe he was a bit sore at us beating them here \ last time.

“It’s very hard to take. The game was turned on its head when the referee succumbed to local pressure. The referee bowed to pressure from the crowd and from Arsène Wenger. It’s an absolute disgrace, to tell you the truth. We’ve not been beaten by Arsenal, who are fourth in the Premier League, we’ve been beaten by the linesman. It’s disgraceful.”

Brown was equally outspoken in his condemnation of Riley, who failed to penalise Gallas when he headed in Samir Nasri’s free kick. “We lost the game unfairly as the lad was two yards offside,” Brown said. “The flag goes up for Barmby in the first half, but it doesn’t go up for him. I didn’t use the word cheat, you did. I can’t use that word I’m afraid, but that’s the case.

“Ask Mr Riley how much that will cost Hull City. I don’t think he’ll understand, I don’t think he’ll care. I’ve not spoken to Mr Riley. I’m glad you said the word you said at the start, thank you very much.”

Wenger claimed to have no knowledge of any alleged spitting incident involving Fàbregas — who has not played since December because of a knee injury — but insisted that Gallas’s goal deserved to stand as the ball was touched by Boaz Myhill, the Hull goalkeeper, on the way through to the defender.

“There was no incident,” Wenger said. “I haven’t seen anything. You ask me what I have seen and I have seen nothing. I am here to talk about football, I’m not going to create newspaper stories or create things that are minor that many not have happened in the tunnel.

“I went after the game to shake Brown’s hand and there was nobody there. Pat Rice went to see him. I would shake his hand now — why not? I would have no problem shaking his hand.”