Mikel Arteta lambasts "unacceptable" Nicolas Pepe headbutt

Mikel Arteta lambasts "unacceptable" Nicolas Pepe headbutt as Arsenal cling on for Premier League point at Leeds United



By Charlie Bennett

Mikel Arteta branded Nicolas Pepe’s headbutt as “unacceptable” after the Arsenal forward was sent off for violent conduct during the Gunners’ 0-0 draw with Leeds on Sunday. 

The club-record signing was handed a rare start at Elland Road but struggled to make an impact before losing his cool and thrusting his head at Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski. 

The referee consulted VAR and sent Pepe packing in the early in the second half, forcing the Gunners to cling on for a point. 

"It is unacceptable. Unacceptable. At this level you cannot do it," he said. 

"It is a point. I am never happy with a draw but considering the circumstances it is one we take and move on.

“I will deal with the player. On those moments, you can use the excuse that someone has thrown the game away, or you can react and show resilience, ambition and character and belief that you can still
win the football match, and that's what the team did. 

"They suffer together, and they hope and they have belief that in any moment we could find a way to score a goal, which we were unlucky not to do." 

Arsenal later released a statement condemning social media abuse of both Pepe and Alioski, warning they will work with police to trace and prosecute those responsible.

Despite the red card, it was another underwhelming performance from Arsenal, who were outplayed for much of the contest and would have lost had Leeds’ finishing been up to scratch. 

The hosts hit the woodwork three times through Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha, while Arsenal only had two shots on target in the whole match. 


Keen to find a spark, Arteta deployed Pepe on the right wing, switched Willian to the left and moved Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the middle of the front three. 

Alex Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Bukayo Saka were left on the bench but Arsenal still struggled to lay a glove on Leeds. 

The Gunners have now scored just nine goals from their first nine Premier League games. Only four teams have scored less and two of those, Burnley and Wolves, have played fewer games. 

"The first half there were two different periods,” Arteta added. "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." 

Photo Credit: Getty Images 

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