LONDON, Nov 12 - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Sunday he regretted his spat with West Ham United coach Alan Pardew but he had been provoked by a lack of respect.

Both men have been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after the touchline flare-up at the end of West Ham's 1-0 victory at Upton Park last weekend.

Pardew has apologised for his exuberant celebrations while Wenger, who will not seek a personal hearing from the FA, finally broke his silence after Sunday's 3-0 win over Liverpool.

"I think Alan Pardew apologised because he was conscious that I felt provoked in a disrespectful way in my area," Wenger told a news conference.

"I reacted -- and I regret it, because you should never react.

"For the rest, I accept his apologies and life goes on. It was still a small incident. Two managers had a disagreement."

Wenger, who has until November 23 to respond to the charge, said: "I will not specially demand a hearing because for me the incident is over, I will not specially want to travel to the FA for that.

"I've been on a bench for 22 years and I know when I'm right and when I'm wrong and that's it.

"I feel I'm adult enough to know that when I do not do right I have to accept it."

Wenger was also quizzed about his refusal to talk to the media since the game.

"The fact that I didn't speak was not linked at all with the incident...it was purely for sporting reasons," he said without elaborating.

Writing about the spat in his programme notes before the victory over Liverpool, Wenger said: "I will give my explanations for what happened when the time comes but I will say that there is always a reason for a reaction.

"I chose not to speak to the media after the game and during the week because I believe there was no need to make any more out of it than what happened.

"Also I thought it was important for me to take the chance to reflect on the overall performance of the team."