Gerrard should have been dismissed - Wenger

Arsene Wenger insisted Steven Gerrard should have been sent off for a “reckless and dangerous” tackle on Patrick Vieira as Arsenal added the Community Shield to their double triumph.

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.

Wenger 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 had always planned to bring Brazilian World Cup winner Silva, a £4.5million summer signing, on at half-time.

However, he almost took off Vieira – now Arsenal captain after Tony Adams officially announced his retirement from the game – rather than Edu due to the tackle on him by Gerrard.

Wenger accepts teams will increasingly target his double-winners this season, although he insists they are ready to battle their way to the title again.

“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,” said 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.

“My team are hungry and they want to win more. They showed their attitude on that level was spot-on. They want more and they will fight to get more.”

Wenger is determined to ensure his team build on their double success, rather than in 1999 when Manchester United responded to another trophyless season by sweeping to the treble, albeit by just one point in the league.

“Games like this are a good indication of the level of motivation. I am convinced since seeing the team in pre-season that it’s not like 1999. They want more and do not want to relax,” he stressed.

Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek kept his team in the Community Shield with fine saves from Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp before Silva struck in his first major appearance since the World Cup final.

“I’m happy for him as he’s an intelligent boy, makes things simple and gets into the box at the right time,” said Wenger, who principally signed him to allow Vieira more freedom to get forward.

“Maybe he was still a bit surprised by the physical side of the fight but he will adapt quickly to that and I believe he will be a very strong player for us.”

Wenger certainly needs influential figures at the club following Adams’ retirement and he believes Vieira will increasingly step into the leadership role.

“Tony was an exceptional player and is an exceptional human being. The only way to be faithful to what he has done for us is to learn from him,” added the Arsenal boss.

“He was an inspiration in our dressing room. What we gained is that everyone is conscious of taking on more leadership now.

“Players like Patrick have learned from him. What people forget is that Patrick is 26. We have to slowly get him used to this role.

“He has already got great stature at the club but he will take on even more responsibility and everyone else must also rise to that challenge.”