Arsenal fans cannot understand Mikel Arteta decision against Leeds

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Arsenal put an end to a run of three Premier League matches without a win by beating Leeds United at The Emirates on Sunday evening – but Gunners fans cannot understand why Mikel Arteta left Nicolas Pepe on the substitutes bench.

The Gunners went ahead of Leeds in the Premier League table, after being overtaken by Marcelo Bielsa’s side last Monday, with a 4-2 win thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s first ever Premier League hat-trick, and a goal from Hector Bellerin.

Arsenal were 4-0 up by the time Arteta chose to take off Emile Smith-Rowe – who laid on another assists – and replace him with Willian. The Brazilian has struggled since joining Arsenal, failing to score and laying on just three assists in 24 games.

It saw the likes of Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli remain on the bench. Following Willian’s introduction, Leeds scored two goals through Pascal Struijk and Helder Costa and might have had a penalty for a foul on Patrick Bamford.

But they held on, with Arteta also bringing on Rob Holding and Mo Elneny to tighten the ship towards the end of the match. Pepe was expected to start, having scored two Premier League goals in his last four – but remained an unused substitute.

Perhaps his sending off against Leeds was to blame for his exclusion, but Arsenal fans cannot understand both the decision to bring on Willian over £140,000-a-week (Spotrac) Pepe – and that the Ivory Coast international remained on the bench.

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