Arsenal manager Unai Emery has admitted that the red card shown to defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos in Thursday night's Europa League defeat to Rennes 'changed the game', with the Gunners leading and in control until the Greek centre-back left the field.
Alex Iwobi scored an away goal just three minutes into the game. But Rennes equalised immediately after Sokratis was given his marching orders for a second yellow card shortly before half-time, with the Ligue 1 side eventually prevailing 3-1 after two second half strikes.
"Yes, [the red card changed things] more than we wanted," Emery explained to the media at his post-match press conference, via Arsenal.