Wenger: Gerrard should have gone

Gerrard was booked for a challenge on Gunners skipper Vieira early on in the game in Cardiff, but the Frenchman believes the red card should have been shown for the tackle.

"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," said Wenger.

"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 says his troops will come in for some serious treatment on the pitch this season as everyone goes out even harder to beat them.

"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.

"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."

Meanwhile, Liverpool's El Hadji Diouf believed he should have had a penalty during the game, and insists he did not dive.

The Senegal star went down under the sliding challenge of Vieira but referee Alan Wiley ignored The Reds' appeals for a spot kick.

Vieira launched an angry tirade at Diouf but the African insists he did not dive.

"It was a penalty, definitely, but the referee is the master on the pitch and he didn't give it," said Diouf. "There's nothing I can do about that.

"I know the Arsenal players think I dived, but I didn't.

"There was definite contact and the referee should take a look at the video and he will see then that there was contact.

"I was fouled, and it should have been a penalty."