MIKEL ARTETA has slammed Nicolas Pepe for his ‘unacceptable’ headbutt on Ezgjan Alioski against Leeds.
Arsenal managed to survive and hold Marcelo Bielsa’s side to a stalemate despite playing over 40 minutes with a man less.
Mikel Arteta has slammed Nicolas Pepe following his sending off at Leeds
The Gunners star was sent off after he was spotted by VAR headbutting AlioskiCredit: Sky Sports
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The incident occurred just after half time, and after a VAR check, winger Pepe was given his marching orders at Elland Road.
Afterwards his manager did not hold back as he blasted the Ivory Coast attacker for his hot-headed reaction.
He told BBC: “It is unacceptable. Unacceptable.
“At this level you cannot do it.”
On the result, Arteta added: “Considering how early we got Pepe sent off we have to take it.
“I never like a draw but in the circumstances it’s a point. It is unacceptable.
“The first half there were two different periods. The game broke a bit, we started to give the ball away and led to them having the space to break.
“The second half it was a matter of defending well and staying patient and using the pace of our players in the space they were leaving.”
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra was a pundit for Sky and he said afterwards that Pepe should apologise to the Gunners squad.
But added that he thought Alioski made the most of the contact.
He said: “Pepe should say sorry to all his team-mates, because Arsenal had to change their plans after that.
“Alioski deserves an Oscar… he looked like he’d broken his nose or something. But it’s really silly from Pepe.
“When you’re not playing a lot, and you do that when they give you a chance, don’t cry if you’re not playing the next games.”
The Ivory Coast star stuck his forehead into the Leeds defender’s headCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
Pepe was shown the red card after the referee checked VARCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
