Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said his technical crew cannot understand Nicolas Pepe’s decision after his late blunder in their 2-1 victory over Leeds United on Sunday.
Eddie Nketiah’s first-half brace boosted the Gunners’ push for a top-four finish but Pepe who was introduced in the 67th minute had a chance to stretch the lead at the Emirates Stadium which he did not capitalize on.
Pepe had the ball in the middle of the pitch and had a chance to put the ball into an empty net after Leeds United goalkeeper Ilan Meslier left his position to attack a corner-kick, however, the Ivory Coast international attempted to cut back and he lost the ball in the process.
Pepe’s decision to dribble got assistant coach Albert Stuivenburg angry which he expressed at the end of the game.
“When you see that he’s got an empty net in front of him and he’s taking a touch backward, we cannot really understand but you have to have the perception of the player in that moment,” Arteta told the club’s website.
“They are the ones who make the decisions, and fortunately, we didn’t need that goal.”
