Arsene Wenger will read Olivier Giroud the riot act over his "big mistake" headbutt that drew a red card in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over QPR.
The Arsenal boss admitted he will admonish France striker Giroud in private for his dismissal in their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Giroud reacted angrily to a push from Nedum Onuoha and headbutted the QPR defender, with Wenger conceding the clash merited a straight red card.
Alexis Sanchez and Tomas Rosicky guided Arsenal to victory, despite Charlie Austin firing a late penalty for QPR to set up a nervy finale.
“Yes, of course,” said Wenger when asked if he would have stern words with Giroud behind the scenes.
“He knows that he has made a big mistake today. It was deserved, he didn’t control himself and that of course, is a straight red.
“Of course (it was costly), it changed the game’s dynamic completely.
“We were completely in control of the game, not in trouble, and suddenly we were down to 10 men and only one-nil up.
“We threw our bodies in after that.
"We knew we had to do that, and what I feel is that in the last four, five weeks we have defended with more resilience, even if we conceded from a set-piece to draw against Liverpool.
“Overall I think defensively we are better.”
Chile striker Sanchez missed a penalty, scored the opener and then laid on the winner for fit-again Rosicky, drawing praise from Wenger.
“He gives you always hope he can deliver a goal chance, and he did that again today,” Wenger told BT Sport.
“He’s always efficient at the end of the game and he had a big effect again.”
Matthieu Flamini hailed Wenger’s long-term Arsenal record, hinting that the Gunners were aggrieved at the award of the late QPR penalty that Austin converted.
“We know our manager is a legend, so he proved it once again today,” said Flamini.
“We are not going to comment on the referee’s decision too much, but to be fair I think it was a bit hard on us, but we’ll forgive him, it’s Christmas.
“It was great character of the team today until the last minute.”
