Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe did Leeds United no favours with mindless headbutt on Gjanni Alioski - Graham Smyth's Verdict

You can, of course, explain why Pepe would want to mete out some punishment to Alioski, a waspish nuisance of a player known for his sometimes bizarre and often childlike on- and off-field japes.

Like a bleached bee, he buzzed in and out of Pepe’s personal space, getting touch tight to mark, doing just enough to unsettle his opponent without making sufficient contact to bring Anthony Taylor’s whistle to his lips. It was just the press, the Leeds way of defending, a bit of jostling and maybe a few words in one of the several languages Alioski has mastered.

What was impossible to explain was why Pepe, an international with almost 150 top-flight games in France and England under his belt and no previous red cards, would actually allow himself to stoop, literally, to Alioski’s level and bring the only possible outcome, in a VAR world.

And in a mindless instant, what had been a joy of an encounter to watch became a largely one-sided affair with one-way traffic. Not half as fun or unpredictable.

Mikel Arteta might have described his forward’s actions as unacceptable but his departure made it more acceptable for Arsenal to park the bus against a newly promoted side. There is no shame in operating in a low block when you’re a man down, away from home.

To Arsenal’s credit they boast players of such pace and quality that they remained a threat on the break and could have broken the deadlock themselves late on but, for the most part, they were clinging on for dear life in the second half and relying on Bernd Leno or the woodwork to keep them in the game.

How it ended 0-0 will forever be a puzzle. Poor finishing on Leeds’ behalf only goes some way to justifying the scoreline because Stuart Dallas, Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo and Raphinha can all feel mightily aggrieved not to have hit the net with a quartet of very good efforts.

It was bizarre enough watching Leeds bop the ball around the Arsenal midfield in the first half of a Premier League game, in an empty stadium, before the seige that the second half became.

And amid the headscratching and the headshaking that has followed the draw, the frustration at a missed opportunity, a glorious opportunity at that, to take three points, there was plenty of cause for optimism on display.

Raphinha made his full debut and on the early evidence will play a full part in this top-flight season for Marcelo Bielsa.

His pace, deft touch, vision and ability to find players in the opposition half gave Arsenal a headache and might do the same to the Leeds head coach, with Helder Costa and Ian Poveda waiting in the wings to play on that wing.

Rodrigo, fit and well after testing positive for COVID-19 and sitting out for two games while he quarantined, was more than a handful for the Gunners. His movement and his willingness to have a crack at goal very nearly made the difference.

But it isn’t just the summer signings bringing excitement to Leeds’ new normal.

Mateusz Klich was the best player on the park in the first half, operating as a roving number 10 of sorts, and some of his link up play was masterful.

And Stuart Dallas, in his 200th appearance for the club, was more than just reliable in a midfield role, he was effective.

Arteta knew what was coming the last time these sides met. The Whites visited the Emirates in last season’s FA Cup as underdogs from the division below and gave a tremendous account of themselves. Like a trip to the dentist, Arteta quipped after a 1-0 win.

He knew what was coming this time, too. But knowing and preventing are very different things.

No real presure on the ball, Dallas’ lovely pass, Klich’s clever flick and Raphinha’s dart off the wing had the visitors backpedalling and only the Brazilian’s slip as he tried to shoot let them breathe a sigh of relief. Arsenal didn’t look entirely comfortable in possession under pressure in the opening minutes, errant passes and aimless punts betraying awkwardness as they attempted to cope with the Whites’ press.

But, having survived a scare when Jack Harrison slid Alioski in behind the defence and Patrick Bamford was foiled by Leno, they played their way into the game, or dribbled their way into it rather.

Carrying the ball was their best chance of bypassing the man marking system and gaining entry to the final third.

It was down the left that the Gunners enjoyed most success. Raphinha was beaten too easily more than once, giving Luke Ayling a tough task up against the pace and trickery of Pepe who sent a cross onto the top of the crossbar.

When Arsenal attacked, however, it allowed Leeds to sprint back the other way and find space. Raphinha linked up brilliantly with Klich on a number of occasions, one of which saw him whip a shot just wide.

Klich was popping up everywhere and another clever touch put Ayling on the ball on the byline, his cross bouncing up to Bamford whose snap volley was beaten away by Leno.

Chances were plentiful. Dallas had one, Klich had one and Ayling had one. Arsenal survived.

Any worries about Dallas in the middle were dispelled as Leeds passed the ball around at pace. They had bodies to spare in the centre of the pitch and they had Klich to find them.

The signs were there that Leeds could hurt Arsenal and they went in at the break the better side.

But seven minutes after the restart Pepe erred and everything changed.

Arsenal sat in and looked to counter through the impressive jet-heeled Bukayo Saka. He skinned Ayling, set up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Illan Meslier saved his warning shot.

Leeds tried to be patient and tried not to force their attacks but that allowed Arsenal to set up defensively. It was when the hosts injected pace that the visitors struggled. Raphinha hit the afterburners to unbalance the defence and Leno had to be at his very best to palm away a Dallas rocket.

With Rodrigo on, Leeds carried an even greater threat. He thundered a shot just past the post and with his sights adjusted blasted the next one against the crossbar.

Pace was the key for both teams at this point and when Saka was played clean through on goal only Meslier could stop him, and did, brilliantly.

The winner was there for the taking for Leeds, however, if only they could find it.

Ian Poveda’s cross found Bamford and he found a header which found the post.

Deep in stoppage time Dallas found a cross, Rodrigo flicked it on and found Raphinha free at the back post and his shot found the woodwork.

What could have been, inexplicably just wasn’t to be.