Mikel Arteta criticise Nicolas Pepe for ‘unacceptable’ Red Card against Leeds United

One Arsenal player’s behaviour was branded ‘unacceptable’ by boss Mikel Arteta after his headbutt to an opponent left Arsenal to collect only single point against Leeds United.

The winger was shown a red card for the 51st-minute incident when Pepe headbutted Ezgjan Alioski of Leeds United after referee Anthony Taylor confirmed that with the help of VAR. From there, both teams went scoreless for 90 minutes.

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Arteta’s men have undergone an up-and-down struggle thus far and find themselves in 11th place after 9 games, and the arsenal boss said Arsenal’s current lack of scoring goals was standing in their way of becoming a ‘top team’.   

‘It’s unacceptable. Unacceptable,’ said the Gunners manager.

‘When you play with ten men with the intensity you need when you play against them (Leeds), it’s a big disadvantage.

‘I really liked the personality of the team. When Pepe let the team down we stuck with what we had to do and had a moment or two to win the game, but it makes it difficult.’

Arsenal have now scored just once in five Premier League games but Arteta insisted:

‘It’s not the lack of attacking players we have or the attacking players we are putting on the pitch, but we need some moments where we have to make better decisions and be more ruthless. I’m never satisfied with a point but we know the challenge that we faced for 40 minutes in the second half with only ten men.’