Nicolas Pepe breaks his silence over Unai Emery's sacking and makes Freddie Ljungberg vow

Nicolas Pepe has become the Arsenal latest player to react to Unai

Emery's departure.

Last Friday it was announced that the Spaniard had departed north

London after 18 months in charge following weeks of speculation

regarding his position at the club.

In truth, the pressure had been mounting on the former Sevilla and

Paris Saint-Germain boss, but he remained defiant and stated that he

was simply focused on the next game despite overseeing a winless

run which had reached seven games across all competitions.

However, it turned out that the 2-1 defeat at home against Eintracht

Frankfurt in the Europa League was the final straw, with the Gunners

confirming his departure in a statement less than 24 hours later.

First-team players Emiliano Martinez, David Luiz, Dani Ceballos,

Calum Chambers and Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick

Aubameyang, Hector Bellerin, Kieran Tierney and Matteo Guendouzi

all sent messages to the former Gunners head coach shortly after the

announcement.

And Pepe has now followed suit.

The Ivory Coast international is the most expensive player of Emery's

tenure at the Emirates Stadium having cost £72m from Ligue 1 outfit

Lille during the summer transfer window.

Although, that didn't guarantee the winger a place in the Spaniard's

team.

Not much has changed even with the appointment of Freddie

Ljungberg as interim head coach as Pepe has been named as a

substitute in each of the first two games since Emery's exit.

Whilst admitting it's been difficult to see Emery leave, he's vowed to

prove to Ljungberg that he should be a starter for the Gunners.

"Losing Emery was painful for me," Pepe told RMC Sport . "He’s the

coach who brought me here. 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 negative overall. I’m not at all

satisfied with my stats.

"I was signed to make the difference and I’ve not done that. Need to

adapt, especially to box to box element of Premier League.

"Need to finish my chances."