Arsene Wenger: 'Mathieu Flamini red card was harsh'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that Mathieu Flamini's red card against Southampton on Tuesday night was "harsh".

The midfielder was dismissed in the 80th minute for a two-footed lunge on Morgan Schneiderlin as the Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw at St Mary's Stadium in the Premier League.

Despite disagreeing with the referee's decision, Wenger admits that the team must accept it.

"To me it looked harsh. He got the ball," the Frenchman is quoted as saying by the club's official website.

"If you say that every time a guy makes a two-footed tackle it is a red card, he deserves a red card. If you say was it a violent tackle, I would say no because he played the ball. But the referee made this decision and we have to cope with it."

Arsenal remain at the top of the Premier League table following the draw, but they will drop down to second place if Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur tonight (Wednesday).