Nicolas Pepe was shown a straight red card for headbutting Gjanni Alioski shortly after half-time during Arsenal‘s game against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Arsenal were distinctly second best in the first half, failing to register a single shot on target and allowing 13 efforts on their own goal from their hosts – the most any Premier League side has managed in an opening 45 minutes this season.
Mikel Arteta opted to withdraw Willian for Reiss Nelson at the break in an effort to stem the tide but Arsenal’s hopes of securing a win were dealt a blow when Pepe was sent off after 51 minutes by referee Anthony Taylor.
The incident occurred off-the-ball during a rare Arsenal attack as Pepe sought to make a run into the Leeds penalty area. Alioski had drifted across to mark the Ivorian and looked to block his progress by standing in front of him on the edge of the box.
Following a brief exchange of views, Pepe then thrust his head into Alioski’s leading to the North Macedonia international going to ground clutching his face.
Although play continued for a short while after, Taylor blew his whistle after being advised to review the incident on his pitch-side monitor by VAR official Stuart Attwell.
It took Taylor just one replay to decide that Pepe’s action constituted a red card offence for violent conduct and the 25-year-old was promptly given his marching orders.
It was the first time that Pepe had been sent off in a league game on his 146th appearance and was also the sixth red card given to an Arsenal player since the start of last season – more than any other club in that time.
“He’s in trouble,” said Gary Neville on Sky Sports before Taylor had brandished the red card. “He’s reacted to the initial contact and Alioski then just stands his ground and the head comes towards Alioski. He’s done.
“He [Taylor] won’t duck it. Pepe may as well start walking down the tunnel now. There you go, one look, gone.”
Neville’s co-commentator Martin Tyler, meanwhile, described it as an “idiotic act”.
FA Law 12: Fouls and misconduct – Violent conduct
Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made.
In addition, a player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible.
Pepe will now face a three-game domestic ban, meaning he will miss Arsenal’s match against Wolves next Sunday, the north London derby against Spurs the following weekend and a home game against Burnley next month.
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