He saved Unai Emery from even more abuse this morning as Arsenal were 2-1 down with just 15 minutes to go, against a team with zero points and zero goals in the group before this game, but were fully deserving of their lead. But then Emery swapped Lacazette off and set us up for Pepe’s amazing double to win us the game.
This is what Emery said about it on Arsenal.com after the game: “Every player, usually, they need time to adapt. Pepe is a very good player and we believe in him, totally. The way he’s going, sometimes he feels better, sometimes it’s with more difficulty on the pitch. It depends on the opponent. He’s improving and tonight those two goals are really important for us first, and then secondly for him. He’s continuing the adaptation in his process and as soon as he can adapt, that’s better for us.
“We are very happy for him and for us because those two goals, from two set-pieces, were perfect. He was trying a lot of set-piece shooting on the training ground last week and I was watching his shooting, because I was also positive in that situation when we can have players like Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Ceballos or others to shoot. The most important thing is the three points and that some individual players can improve, that they can take confidence for us and for them.”
It always takes time for players to adapt to the Premier League and a new country, but it looks like Pepe has finally arrived. And I don’t believe it “depends on the opponent” as there are few keepers in the world that would have saved those free kicks!
Anyway watch them here and see for yourself….