Leeds United full-back Ezgjan Alioski has privately told his team-mates that he “can’t wait” to face Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe on Sunday after the red card controversy in their last meeting.
Pepe headbutted Alioski in an off-the-ball incident and was given a straight red card in the 51st minute of their Premier League clash in November after referee Anthony Taylor viewed the altercation on a pitchside monitor.
Arsenal had been outclassed up to that point but resolutely held on for the rest of the match to claim a share of the spoils in a 0-0 draw, with manager Mikel Arteta describing Pepe’s conduct as “unacceptable”.
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And now Leeds team-mate Patrick Bamford has revealed that Alioski is relishing another duel with Pepe when the Yorkshire side travel to the Emirates Stadium over the weekend.
Speaking on The Official Leeds United Podcast, Bamford said: “Do you know what, he said in the changing room the other day: ‘I can’t wait for Sunday’.
“I was like, ‘Why?’ He was like, ‘I’m playing against my mate Pepe again’. I was like, ‘No way!’”
Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford – who is a regular on the podcast – added his thoughts: “He would wind me up so much playing against him. He’s constantly ratting around all the time.”
Bamford replied: “He’s the worst isn’t he. He never shuts up either.”
Leeds are currently a point and a place better off in the league table than Arsenal and Bamford is “excited” for the rest of the season, he said: “I think start of the season if you’d said we’d play Arsenal away in February and you’re going to be ahead of them in the league, then I don’t think anyone would have believed it.
“But that’s just the way it’s gone, and I’m excited about it. I think it will suit us, and we’ll see how we get on. Now, I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but we want to be looking forward and seeing how far we can get.”
On the Arsenal match, Beckford added: “My money is on us winning. Arsenal seem to be in a bad place at the moment, nothing is working out for them.
“They’ve got a couple of players who are coming in, going out, and there’s no stability within their ranks. So I don’t think they’ll be able to deal with the overload, the work rate, the finishing prowess of our one and only number nine.”
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