Arsenal boss Unai Emery defended Sokratis after his dismissal in their Europa League defeat at Rennes.

The Gunners lost the first-leg of their Europa League round 16 tie 3-1.

Emery said, "I think we changed more than we want, but a red card can come. Two yellow cards and it's the referee's decision. After, I think we must learn to play - when it's coming like today - with one less player on the pitch. Not a good experience today, because we couldn't do our work in difficult moments, in difficult minutes, with one less player, like we wanted. I think we can do better.

"I am positive in the first 40 minutes because I think, with respect to them, we imposed our gameplay in these moments. We can maybe score a second goal because we deserved to, but after it is really very different in the match. I cannot say to Sokratis because he has very good commitment, he has very good behaviour and he received two yellow cards in two actions of playing. But we are going to think, for the next week, we are going to start 11 against 11, without Sokratis and without Lacazette, but we have players.

"Like the first 40 minutes, we can do it with our supporters also, to have the possibility to come back. But we know this result is not good. It is bad and it is going to be tough for us. But we need to do with focus and with our players, this possibility to come back."