Arsene Wenger has warned Hull not to use "excessive force" after their manager Phil Brown promised a physical encounter at Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

The Gunners boss has called on the Premier League newcomers to respect the rules, barely a week after Gael Clichy was put in hospital by a tackle from Kevin Davies in Arsenal's 3-1 win at Bolton.

Brown claims he saw nothing wrong with such a challenge and vowed that if his players were aggressive and hurt an opponent in the process, then "so be it".

But Wenger said: "For me the (Davies) tackle was not right. I don't have a problem with the physical game because I love commitment but it is down to intention and technical ability of the player.

"A good tackle is as beautiful to watch as a good volley, for example. But you have to be sure about the quality of the tackling.

"It must be one-footed because I never could understand why you need two legs to tackle a good ball.

"Secondly, you must use extra aggression; excessive force is punished in the laws of the game. Excessive force in a tackle is a red card.

"If tough tackling is with a desire to hurt your opponent, it is not acceptable. The beauty in sport is to win in respect the rule.

"If us as managers start to say we will not respect the rules, it must not be accepted and that's in every sport."

Clichy will start the match after training today but Brown (above) still told Arsenal to be prepared for a bruising match.

He said: "For me, the Kevin Davies tackle, there was nothing wrong with that.

"If you take that out of the game Hull City might as well not play at the Emirates."

"If you allow Arsenal to dictate that that tackle goes out of the game, then we are finished.

"We have got that tackle on our side - they have got the technical side of the game on their side.

"If they are allowed to express that technical side without tackling, without physical contact, we might as well not turn up."

Hull have made a promising start to their top flight campaign but will have their work cut out tomorrow. The Gunners have not conceded a goal at home in the League for six matches - since Peter Crouch netted for Liverpool on 5 April. That mean defence and the performance of Carlos Vela in attack in the 6-0 win over Sheffield United Wenger believes vindicated his decision not to spend big money this summer.

Wenger added: "This [having five strikers to chose from] is an answer for all those people who did not understand why I did not buy. I am pleased but I am not surprised because I always knew what Carlos could do. I knew that Eduardo would come back. I knew that Nicklas Bendtner would be a top-class striker and we already have two that play regularly in (Robin) van Persie and (Emmanuel) Adebayor so I knew that I did not have to buy."

One signing Wenger did make was Mikael Silverstre from Manchester United and the defender is finally fit to start tomorrow. The only injury doubt that Arsenal have is over Alex Song, who has a hip problem.