Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has given his verdict on Nicolas Pepe's red card during Arsenal's Premier League clash with Leeds United.
Just six minutes into the second half at Elland Road, Pepe was given his marching orders by referee Anthony Taylor following an apparent off-the-ball headbutt on Ezgjan Alioski.
The incident initially went unnoticed with the ball in play and away from both Pepe and Alioski, but referee Taylor was called to the VAR monitor to review the footage.
The experienced official took just one look and got the red card out to send Pepe from an early bath.
Former Manchester United defender turned pundit Neville agreed with the call, saying on Sky Sports commentary: "It’s one of those if the heads meet and you don’t move it forward, you might be okay, but that little movement towards Alioski.
"He was never gonna get away with it. They already spent a lot of time without the ball in the first-half, you can only imagine that’ll get worse now for this Arsenal team.”
Neville wasn't particularly impressed with Pepe's performance before the red card, adding: "He wasn’t particularly good in the game to start with, now he’s left his team short which is even worse.
"Now, he’s got an agonising 40 minutes in that changing room, hoping his team-mates can pull him out of trouble. "
Footage later showed Pepe and Alioski tangling in a separate incident with Pepe unhappy with the way his Leeds counterpart was using his arms.
It appeared the Ivorian eventually got fed up with his marker and lashed out, leaving his teammates to battle it out at Elland Road a man short having already struggled to get to grips with Marcelo Bielsa's men.
