‘Great defending from Alioski’ Adams disappointed by Pepe’s red card

It was in the 51st minute of the

’ 0-0 draw against

that the

was sent off due to a headbutt he aimed at Leeds’

. Mikel Arteta’s team was forced to play more conservatively after they were down to ten men and eventually couldn’t manage to score a winner. Many observers accused Alioski of exaggeration as there was only a small contact with the Macedonian’s face but Former Arsenal captain Tony Adams has hailed the player for his smart defending.

“I can’t defend him [Pepe] at all.” he told Stadium Astro. “He’s got frustrated because there is huge pressure, the Leeds player is completely down his neck.

“You are entitled to do that, that is great defending for me. You have got to take that in your stride.

“If a defender is not pressurising you, then he’s not doing his job.

“I can’t defend the guy at all, he has been very silly on this occasion. It kind of killed Arsenal because they had to go back and completely defend.

“It goes back to previously, the way that the defender was pressurising him all over the pitch and Pepe didn’t like that. He has got provoked and turned around and headbutted him.

“It’s the way you react to that kind of pressure. You react by creating problems and scoring goals. There are kids watching and that was a really bad example.”