Gunners skipper Fabregas, who was not playing in the FA Cup quarter-final clash last month, issued a statement on the evening of the incident to deny he spat at Horton in the tunnel and he was expected to do so again to the FA.

"I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?" read Fabregas' statement.

Meanwhile, the 21-year-old has told Spanish media that his future does not depend on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who has been reluctant to talk about his plans beyond 2011.

Spain midfielder Fabregas told Cadena Ser: "I hope that my future will be at Arsenal, but it does not depend on Arsene Wenger's future at all," he said.

"Of course we are talking about a very important person to me.

"I respect him a lot, but in football you try to achieve things as an individual."

He added: "I hope that I will play football for another 10 or 12 years. I have no idea where that will be."