Arsene
Wenger felt Steven Gerrard should have been sent off
for his "reckless" challenge on Patrick Vieira
in Sunday's Community Shield clash.
Liverpool
powerhouse Gerrard caught his midfield counterpart
with a late tackle and received a yellow card when
perhaps it should have been red.
Gunners manager Wenger felt the England man should
have walked, and said: "It was a bad challenge
on Patrick. It was the only really bad challenge of
the game as the rest were just a bit late.
"I like Gerrard as a player but he should normally
have seen red for that kind of tackle. He is a great
player but that tackle was reckless and dangerous.
"You never expect somebody to behave in an unfair
way. Patrick doesn't expect any presents on the pitch
but he does expect everyone to behave fairly as, if
that doesn't happen, you have no football any more."
Wenger, whose side went on to win The Millennium Stadium
curtain-raiser 1-0 courtesy of a Gilberto Silva strike,
is aware that his Double winners are now being targeted.
"There are two attitudes to being champions.
One is to get respect. Another is to get kicked more
and to face more aggression as people want to beat
you more," added Wenger.
"We are quite used to that, though, as we have
had some big fights in the past four or five years.
If it gets even more physical then I am quite worried
for our doctors!
"We had the highest number of fouls against us
last season in the league so I hope it doesn't get
greater.''
