Arsenal's Toure on elbowing charge
 |  Arsenal will miss Toure's defensive ability if he accepts a ban. |
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LONDON, England -- Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has been charged with violent conduct for allegedly elbowing Newcastle's Alan Shearer in the back during the Gunners' 1-0 win in the English Premiership on Sunday.
Toure was charged Tuesday by the Football Association, which viewed video evidence of the incident.
He faces a three-match ban and must answer the charge by Wednesday afternoon under the new fast track system.
"If he accepts the charge, the automatic penalty is a three-match suspension with immediate effect," the FA said in a statement. "If he denies the charge, the case will be heard at a disciplinary commission on Thursday, Jan. 27."
If he accepts the charge, Toure will miss Saturday's FA Cup match against Wolverhampton, and vital league matches against Manchester United and Aston Villa.
After the match, which Arsenal won 1-0, Newcastle manager Graeme Souness said: "I know that the referee saw it, but he chose to do nothing about it."
Ivory Coat international Toure has been one of Arsenal's most consistent players this season and has developed a solid central defensive partnership with England's Sol Campbell.
Toure has played 32 games for Arsenal and collected just one booking.
Pennant problem
Birmingham said on Tuesday that 22-year-old Jermaine Pennant's loan deal from Arsenal had been put on hold.
The former England Under-21 midfielder was charged with drink driving on Monday and faces a possible prison sentence because he was already serving a 16-month ban imposed for a similar offense last February.
Although both clubs said on Monday that Pennant was joining Birmingham, a statement on Birmingham's website said the deal had not been concluded.
"The position is presently on hold and will be reviewed shortly," said a statement on Birmingham's website.
"Whilst Birmingham City wants to loan Jermaine Pennant and both Arsenal and the player wish this to happen.....circumstances are such that a loan agreement cannot be signed at the present time."
Birmingham said they hoped the situation would be resolved before the end of the transfer window next Monday.
Pennant has made 12 appearances for Arsenal this season, the last on January 9 in an FA Cup third-round match against Stoke City at Highbury which Arsenal won 2-1.
