Gerrard ‘should have been sent off’

Arsenal 1, Liverpool 0

Wenger believes the Gunners are ready for a physical battle this season as he expects sides to attempt to knock them out of their stride.

But while he felt they showed their stomach for the impending fight in defeating Liverpool 1-0 in Cardiff through Gilberto Silva’s 69th-minute strike, he was critical of Gerrard’s early foul. The England international, who missed the World Cup due to a groin operation, was like a man possessed as he fouled Vieira after five minutes before then promptly coming close to earning himself a second yellow card.