Alexandre Lacazette revealed Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta gave them a half-time dressing down in Monday night's FA Cup win against Leeds.
The Championship leaders dominated the first half and the Gunners had Emiliano Martinez to thank for keeping them in the game with a string of saves.
Arsenal were much improved after the break and they booked a fourth round trip to Bournemouth thanks to Reiss Nelson's scruffy winner.
However, stand-in skipper Lacazette revealed new boss Arteta made his feelings plain during his half-time team-talk.
The French forward said: "The manager shouted a lot. He was not happy because we knew they'd play like this and we didn't respect what he had said."
Patrick Bamford rattled the woodwork for Leeds before the break in one of 15 efforts for the visitors.
However, they were made to pay for their missed chances as Nelson landed the decisive blow on 55 minutes to send Arsenal through to the last 32.
Arteta added: "Now I'm really pleased but we saw two different teams from the first to second half.
"I tried to tell them exactly what they were going to face and after 32 minutes we had won one duel, I think.
"We changed our attitude, desire and organisation at half-time and then we were completely different.
"Sometimes they have to experience themselves how tough and how hard it is going to be. I watched a lot of Leeds games and they battered every team every three days.
"It was good for my players to learn and to suffer on the pitch."
Arsenal are back in Premier League action when they travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
