Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe says he has found adapting to the Premier League difficult following his poor form at the start of the season for the Gunners.
The Ivorian international admits that English football is a different level to what he was used to in France, and he is looking to improve as the campaign goes on:
“It has not been easy, I must tell the truth, My stats have not been good enough or my usual performances, it is not the same as Lille or the Liverpool game earlier in the season.”
“My confidence must come back. I am not very worried. People may be worried about my statistics but I am not. I have to keep working as the level here is different [and] so is the language. It is a new league for me and I must adapt quickly. But it won’t take very long.”
Fans on Twitter had only limited sympathy for a player the club paid £72m for:
Gervinho 2.0
— Elijah Nyachwaya (@nyachwaya254) October 2, 2019
He has chances on goal but his end product Is like iwobi
— Lee Adams? (@NegativeGooner_) October 2, 2019
Chin up lad!
— Carlo Luchesse (@skwestbank) October 2, 2019
The pitch and the goal is the same size, get on with it
— Luke Harrison (@rrrrison) October 2, 2019
Don’t lose heart!!!!! You will be a legend!!!! ??
— Richard Butler (@RichieB1964) October 2, 2019
Mate adapting shouldn’t mean you can’t cross or pass who utterly awful against United
— Jack Clements (@JacktheGreek_) October 2, 2019
I feel exactly the same way about his performances, he was sharper at the start of the season and his form kept droping since liverpool, at least he’s honest with himself, can only go better once he gets that bit of confidence back
— damien dixon (@Thedamiendixon) October 2, 2019
Just a matter of time to adapt , work for it n u will be d legend we’ve been waiting for
— sherif (@sherif89765416) October 2, 2019
Pains me to say we never got ziyech or Neres when we had the chance
— @POTISON IV (@Ofwonopot) October 2, 2019
Please up your game
— Dammy O’toba ? ?? (@Dimmylallana) October 3, 2019
One penalty and two assists from eight appearances is not a great start, and he also appears to be suffering from a lack of confidence at the moment, going by his poor finishing and crossing against Manchester United.
Things can change very quickly, though, and he could need just one good performance to turn things around. Manager Unai Emery says he is confident that Pepe has the quality to play in the Premier League. We will see whether he can up his game in the coming weeks.