Pardew (left) and Wenger are facing an FA misconduct charge

The pair have been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association after the flare-up.

The clash followed Marlon Harewood's late winner for West Ham.

Wenger said after the 3-0 win against Liverpool: "I responded and I regret I responded. I shouldn't have done it but I also accept Alan Pardew's apology."

Interview: Arsene Wenger

It was the first time Wenger had spoken publicly since the clash on 5 November.

Wenger and Pardew had to be kept apart by the fourth official after Harewood's goal.

The Frenchman added: "THe fact that I didn't speak was nothing to do with the incident. It was down to completely different reasons.

"What I decided was for the right reasons, and for purely sports reasons.

"Alan Pardew apologised because I felt provoked in a disrespectful way in my area. I accept his apologies and life goes on.

"It was a small incident when two managers had a disagreement on a heated incident. I will not demand a hearing because for me the incident is over.

Sometimes I go a little bit further than I should Arsene Wenger

"I will not especially want to travel to the FA for that. I have been on the bench for 22 years. I know when I am right and when I am wrong and that's it.

"I said I regret having reacted so all the rest now can only be boring and a waste of time.

"I don't need a special meeting (with Pardew). I accept his excuses. I am not an image man or a media man who needs the cameras to say what I think.

"I don't work here for my image, I work here for my club and to win football games. Sometimes I go a little bit further than I should.

"I don't need to worry about what people think. I know I behave like I feel I need to behave and I feel I'm adult enough to know that when I don't do right I have to accept it.

"All the rest is like in the movies, not real life."