Mikel Arteta backs Nicolas Pepe to shine after Leeds red card

Nicolas Pepe will be given an opportunity to bounce back by selecting him against Molde.

Nicolas Pepe will miss the next three matches through suspension as he was sent off for butting heads with Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski.

But Arteta is ready to play him against Molde after he apologised both publicly and privately.

Arteta said in his pre-match press conference: “Yes, absolutely.

“We have all had disappointments in our playing careers and obviously now we are frustrated because when you play against a team like Leeds for a long time with 10 men it makes a huge difference.

“He had a really good reaction. The way he apologised, the way he understood his responsibility and hopefully tomorrow we can see the player we want to see have a good reaction and help his team.

“I will give Nico my full support all the time. He knows the things he has to improve, but as well we all know his qualities.

“He has some responsibility, I have some responsibility, which is to get the best out of him and get the best position for him, the best areas for him to do what he can do with the ball.

“I can’t fault at all his effort and if you see any of his stats the way he is trying for the team, the way he is working, it’s the best since he’s been at the club.

“But there are certain aspects he can do better, because he has the ability and that’s where I’m going to put the pressure on for him to deliver what he can do.

“But to say it’s a threat for him to finish his career [at Arsenal], it’s not at all like that.”

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