Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that he planned to substitute Dani Ceballos minutes before his red card against Villarreal.
The Gunners started in dismal fashion against Unai Emery's side, going 1-0 down after five minutes before Raul Albiol scored a second before half time.
However, a penalty from Nicolas Pepe gave Arteta's men a lifeline ahead of the second leg in north London on Thursday.
Ceballos was given his marching orders for standing on the boot of Daniel Parejo 30 minutes from time, but had escaped an earlier second yellow card in the first half.
Arteta admitted that he had warned Ceballos about being careful during his half time team talk, before confirming that he was minutes away from substituting the on-loan Real Madrid man for Gabriel Martinelli.
"We talked at half time that we have to be careful," said Arteta after the game.
"I was going to take him [Ceballos] off and by the time Gabi [Martinelli] was ready to come on, that action happened and he was out."
Ceballos will now be suspended for the return leg with Arsenal facing a Premier League match against Newcastle on Sunday, before hosting Villarreal at Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
