MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 23:46:48| >> :120:9802:9802:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Premier League | Gameweek 9
Nov 22, 2020 at 4.30pm UK
Elland Road
Arsenal logo

Leeds
0 - 0
Arsenal


Dallas (15'), Cooper (86'), Phillips (90+3')
FT

Pepe (52')

Mikel Arteta calls Nicolas Pepe's behaviour "unacceptable"

Mikel Arteta calls Nicolas Pepe's behaviour
© Reuters
Nicolas Pepe appeared to headbutt Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski in an off-the-ball challenge.

Mikel Arteta branded Nicolas Pepe’s behaviour “unacceptable” as the Arsenal manager voiced his concern at his side’s lack of goals after drawing a blank in a 0-0 Premier League draw against a dominant Leeds at Elland Road.

Pepe appeared to headbutt Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski in an off-the-ball challenge and Arsenal’s club record signing was given a red card in the 51st minute after Anthony Taylor consulted with the video assistant referee.

Arsenal had been outclassed up to that point but resolutely held on for the rest of the match to claim a point – although Arteta was still visibly annoyed at how Pepe had left his team-mates in the lurch.

Pepe was given a red card in the 51st minute
Pepe was given a red card in the 51st minute (Molly Darlington/PA)

“It’s unacceptable,” Arteta said, refusing to elaborate further.

The Spaniard’s mood was not helped by a muscular injury to Willian which forced the Brazilian’s withdrawal at half-time, while substitute Bukayo Saka came off worst in a challenge late on and limped off.

While they were able to thwart a wasteful Leeds, Arsenal offered little going forward and they have scored only once in their most recent five Premier League matches.

Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was largely isolated after being given a rare chance in a central role up front, with Alexandre Lacazette dropping to the bench, as the Gunners had just two shots on target on Sunday afternoon.

“The fact we need to score more goals, it’s a concern,” Arteta said. “We need goals and a lot of goals to win football matches to be the top team that we want to be. Without that it is impossible.

“It doesn’t matter how we are defensively.

“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.

“But it’s the most difficult thing in football and sometimes we go through these patches and we have to overcome. I have to help the players to overcome and do it as quickly as possible.”

While Arteta was dissatisfied at leaving West Yorkshire with only a point, he was able to take some positives.

“We have to take a point considering the circumstances,” he added. “I’m never satisfied with a point but we know that the challenge that we faced in the second half for 40 minutes in the second half with 10 men.

“The way we reacted to it and the resilience that we showed, the effort that all the players put in to try to overcome that advantage was phenomenal.”

Leeds had 25 attempts at goal – 13 in the first half and 12 after the interval – but only four were on target on a day where Rodrigo, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha – handed his first start for the club – all hit the woodwork.

Marcelo Bielsa lamented an inability to capitalise on their chances but when it was put to him that it is a mark of how far Leeds have come that a draw with Arsenal is considered disappointing, the boss said: “Perhaps it’s how you say.

“The game had two moments: the first hour where we played 11 against 11 in which he dominated the game and didn’t allow the opponent to react, and the final half-an-hour where the dominance was even more clear.

“Offensively we did enough to deserve to have established a lead.”

Raphinha was among those to catch the eye for Leeds in a lively display but Bielsa’s praise for the winger was a little measured, as the head coach said: “It was a positive performance.

“He contributed to help improve our offensive game.

“He was unable to contribute more balance individually himself but he had a big influence on the right-hand side where we were dangerous.”

ID:423356: cacheID:423356:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9500:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
OT
Vikings
30-27
Bears
FT
Lions
24-6
Colts
FT
Patriots
15-34
Dolphins
FT
Buccaneers
30-7
Giants
FT
Chiefs
30-27
Panthers
FT
Titans
32-27
Texans
FT
Cowboys
34-26
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!