Ref row after Arsenal defeat

The Arsenal players look despondent after Leeds score

Leeds 1-0 Arsenal

Referee Dermot Gallagher had to be protected after tempers flared at the end of Leeds' victory over Arsenal at Elland Road.

A protective cordon was thrown around the referee in the tunnel as a number of Arsenal players lost their cool.

Gallagher booked seven Arsenal players in the game - compared to one yellow card for Leeds.

It was Arsenal's fourth defeat in five games.

Wenger and at least two Arsenal players are believed to have become involved in a verbal dispute among themselves as heated words were exchanged as the teams left the field.

We made 20 fouls and had seven bookings, while Leeds made 18 fouls and had only one booked, so draw your own conclusions

  Arsene Wenger

Gallagher's display is also understood to have been called into question and, as the fracas grew in intensity, stewards surrounded the Banbury official.

It is not known whether Gallagher will file a report on the incident to the Football Association, although Wenger tried to play down the situation in the after-match press conference.

The Arsenal boss is currently serving a 12-match touchline ban following a tunnel incident at Sunderland earlier in the season.

When asked about the Sunday incident, Wenger said: "There was a little bit of talking, but nothing physical.

"The game was physical, but all the rest was very nice afterwards!"

Easy bookings

Wenger, though, made it clear he was not happy with Gallagher's performance as he described him as being "unfair".

"We made 20 fouls and had seven bookings, while they (Leeds) made 18 fouls and had only one booked, so draw your own conclusions.

"For example, Silvinho was booked for just winning the ball off Bowyer in front of me. It might have been difficult to see, but he didn't touch Bowyer.

"Maybe it was difficult for the referee, but I felt we were given some easy bookings, although it doesn't explain our defeat."