FULHAM EVERTON / LEEDS ARSENAL Pepe is the butt of Arteta’s frustration after early exit
NICOLAS PEPE’S behaviour was branded ‘unacceptable’ by boss Mikel Arteta after his headbutt left Arsenal to scrap for a point at Leeds.
The winger was shown a red card for the 51st-minute incident that floored Ezgjan Alioski (right) after referee Anthony Taylor was prompted to view the touchline monitor by the video assistant referee.
Even though Arsenal escaped with a barely deserved point in a 0-0 draw, Arteta could not hide his annoyance at how Ivory Coast winger Pepe had left his side in the lurch.
‘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.’
Meanwhile the Gunners are waiting to find out the extent of an injury that left 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, who impressed after coming on as substitute, clutching his knee late on.
Arteta said: ‘He was in pain. We’re going to have to assess with the medical staff how bad it is, but it looked like a pretty bad challenge and he was in pain so we decided to take him out straight away.’