LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal fear the defence of their Premiership crown is being threatened by intimidating tactics by opponents but manager Arsene Wenger believes his players will no longer over-react.
"When teams cannot compete with us technically, they compensate with more commitment," Wenger said.
"But we deal very well with it now. We don't get nervous, upset or get any silly yellow cards.
"Jens Lehmann in particular is getting some unfair treatment."
Wenger's concern about his German goalkeeper is understandable as Lehmann's short fuse exploded several times last season.
"Lehmann's got a reputation for being easily upset," Wenger admitted.
England full-back Ashley Cole, who scored the winner in Saturday's 1-0 at Manchester City which stretched Arsenal's unbeaten run to 47 matches, said the hard stuff started last season.
"Teams weren't exactly beating us up, but they were being a lot more physical towards us."
Arsenal's poor disciplinary record was highlighted last season when the Football Association hit them with 14 charges for their role in the Old Trafford battle after Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a match-winning penalty.
But since Patrick Vieira's sending-off which sparked the ugly scenes at Old Trafford, the Gunners have picked up just one Premiership red card.
And the Gunners boss insists that calm under fire is the key to Arsenal's 47-game unbeaten run in the Premiership.
"We spoke to all of the players individually about discipline," said Wenger. "I think we learned a big lesson from that Manchester United game a year ago.
"If you look at our record since then, you will see that we have adapted very well to the problem.
"We deal very well with it now. We don't get nervous, upset or get any silly yellow cards."
Now Arsenal are looking to notch up 50 unbeaten matches against Manchester if they avoid defeat in their next two Premiership encounters against Charlton and Aston Villa.
Cole admitted there could be no greater incentive than notching up a half century of unbeaten games at the home of their arch rivals.
"That's going to be a great match, even if it wasn't for the fact it could be our 50th game unbeaten," said Cole.
And that is one match where all of Arsenal's new-found self-restraint is bound to be tested to the limit.