Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed his reasons for bringing Francis Coquelin off in the second half on Sunday.

The French midfielder was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the 64th minute of the Gunners' eventual 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park after receiving a yellow card minutes before half-time.

Coquelin had been booked for a bad foul on Yannick Bolasie in the 41st minute and could have had a second booking for a tackle on James McArthur in the second half, but rightly stayed on the pitch, according to Wenger who was forced to take him off a little later.

"He didn't deserve a (second) yellow card. The pressure was on to get him sent off," Wenger said.

"He put his hands on his head because he thought it was not a free-kick, not because he thought he would be sent off.

"Every time he intervened, the crowd were behind it and put the pressure on the referee.

"I felt that it was 60 minutes played, I didn't want to take him off but I didn't have much room."