Watch out, Arsenal – Pepe lives up to reputation as Real Madrid legend is sent off for punching opponent in Porto’s clash with Sporting Lisbon

Pepe may be in the twilight years of his career but he’s still as feisty as ever – Arsenal players be warned.

The iconic centre-back, who won three LaLiga titles and three Champions League trophies with Real Madrid, turns 41 in February, but he certainly hasn’t mellowed as he’s got older.

That’s what a clip from his current side Porto’s 2-0 loss to rivals Sporting Lisbon suggests, anyway.

Former Coventry City star Viktor Gyokeres fired the home side ahead in the first-half.

Before Sporting could double their advantage through Pedro Goncalves, though, Pepe was sent for an early bath.

The Portugal international – who had already been booked for a challenge on Gyokeres – was setting the ball down to take a free-kick, but was pushed in the back by Matheus Reis as he prepared to take it.

It’s fair to say Pepe didn’t take kindly to Reis, swinging his right arm back to strike his opponent in the face.

The Sporting star clutched his face in pain and turned to fall in a heap on the floor.

Referee Nuno Almeida was called over to the pitch-side monitor and after a lengthy review, gave Pepe a red card.

The decision received a sarcastic cheer from the home crowd as the 2016 European Championship winner left his side to play the rest of the clash with ten men.

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The sending off marked Pepe’s 15th red card of his club football career, and his second in just 14 appearances.

Fans on social media loved it though, as they cracked up at Pepe continuing to ‘do Pepe things’ and showing he’s still got the ability to suddenly lash out in a moment of madness.

“Never change, Pepe,” one supporter wrote in response to the clip of the incident on X, formerly Twitter.

A second said: “Man, football is going to be a bit more boring once Pepe retires. He always finds new ways to get a red. That is a rare talent.”

“There are three things certain in life – death, taxes and a Pepe red card for poorly executed dark arts,” a third added.

Sporting now sit top of the Portuguese top flight, one point above Lisbon rivals Benfica, who overtook Porto to push Pepe’s side down to third.

And, for the sake of their Premier League title charge, Arsenal fans might be hoping he goes easier on Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli when the Gunners come up against Pepe’s Porto in the Champions League last-16.

The clubs were drawn against each other in the first knockout stage on Monday, with action in Europe’s top tier set to resume in February.