Danny Murphy has described the actions of both Nicolas Pepe and Ezgjan Alioski as "unacceptable" after the Arsenal star was sent off against Leeds United.
Arsenal took a point back to north London after working hard to secure a draw following the dismissal of Pepe in the second half at Elland Road, after an off-the-ball incident.
But Pepe's actions did not impress his manager, with Mikel Arteta describing what the Gunners' record signing did as "unacceptable" after he was adjudged to have attempted a headbutt on Leeds' Ezgjan Alioski, following a VAR review.
And former Liverpool midfielder Murphy agreed with Arteta as he was critical of the Ivory Coast international.
However, he also criticised the actions of Alioski, adding that he could understand the reaction of Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney, who tried to confront the Leeds winger after the final whistle.
"It is ridiculous to do it full stop," Murphy said of Pepe's actions, speaking on BBC programme Match of the Day 2.
"There was a little bit of argy-bargy, but nothing to warrant a headbutt. That’s normal, you are trying to get tight. He’s a good player, [Nicolas] Pepe, and [Ezgjan] Alioski is going to try and get after him and make it uncomfortable.
"Again, there is a little coming together, but I don't know why there is this reaction. He has let himself down, let the team down, and Arteta is right, it is unacceptable.
"But what is also unacceptable for me, is Alioski's response. Going over when he didn't have to, that wasn't enough to put him on his back, and too often now, we see players trying to stitch up other players.
"I know you will get some people saying that is normal now, but that's not normal to me and that is why Kieran Tierney, an honest lad, is fuming."
"If he [Alioski] hadn’t gone down today, would Pepe have been sent off? It’s the same principle with the penalties, if you don't go down, you don't get a penalty.
"That's why players are doing it. If they had just come together with their heads, I don't think he would have been sent off.
"That's why it is happening and I don’t like to see it."
Pepe will now miss three games as a result of the dismissal, with the Ivorian set to sit out games against Wolves, Tottenham and Burnley over the coming weeks.
