Nicholas Pepe opens up about the effect Unai Emery sacking had on him

Nicolas Pepe admits that Unai Emery’s departure was not good for him.

Arsenal has had one of their worst starts to a league season and Unai Emery paid the price by losing his job.

The Spaniard spent 18 months on the job but was sacked after a run of seven games without a win which ended in a 2-1 home loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League.

Emery signed several players while he was the manager of the Gunners, but one player who would miss him the most is arguably Nicolas Pepe, and the Ivorian has admitted that.

Pepe joined the Gunners for a club-record £72 million over the summer from Lille but he has failed to kick on at the Emirates so far.

The Ivorian was reacting to Emery’s sacking and admitted that the Spaniard leaving the Emirates was painful for him to take, however, he insisted that Freddie Ljungberg does have an understanding of his game as well.

“Losing Emery was painful for me. He’s the coach who brought me here,” he told French radio station RMC as cited by the Daily Star.

“It’s painful. Freddie? He used to play so he understands me. It’s up to me to win my place.

“My first four months have been a bit negative on balance. I’m not at all satisfied with my stats.

“I understand the criticism. I was signed to make the difference and I’ve not done that.

“I need to adapt, especially to box to box element of Premier League. I need to finish my chances.”

It is hardly Pepe’s fault that he cost so much and ended up at a dysfunctional club, probably based on promises made by the board.

I have no doubts he will come good as soon as a manager is in place that will utilise him correctly.