Former Arsenal centre-back Martin Keown has criticised Nicolas Pepe for his "unprofessional behaviour" during Sunday's Premier League clash with Leeds United at Elland Road.
Pepe was handed a chance to impress against the Whites, but a difficult afternoon for the 25-year-old ended with him picking up a straight red card for moving his head towards Ezgjan Alioski in an off-the-ball incident.
Keown has claimed that the Ivory Coast international had the perfect chance "to launch his campaign" against Marcelo Bielsa's side but ultimately let his side down.
"This was only Nicolas Pepe's second Premier League start of the season despite arriving with that £72million price tag in the summer of 2019. Arsenal's club-record signing could have used this opportunity to launch his campaign," Keown wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
"Instead, his unprofessional behaviour put his team under pressure and, in the end, manager Mikel Arteta had to be satisfied with earning an away point with 10 men."
Pepe has only scored once in eight Premier League appearances this season, while he has netted just six times in 39 outings in England's top flight since his arrival from Lille.
Matt Law
