Nicolas Pepe unhappy over Unai Emery sacking at Arsenal but highlights Freddie Ljungberg positive

Nicolas Pepe admits it was ‘painful’ to see Arsenal sack Unai
Emery but admits Freddie Ljungberg has a better
understanding with the players.

Arsenal took the decision to sack Emery last week after a
poor run of results and have appointed Ljungberg as an
interim manager until the club’s hierarchy can agree on a
permanent replacement.

Pepe struggled to find his best form under Emery, who
guided Arsenal to just one win in his last nine games in
charge.

But the £72 million summer signing still admits he was
unhappy to see Emery lose his job.
‘It was painful because he is a coach who gave me the
chance to come to Arsenal,’ Pepe told RMC Sport.

When asked about Ljungberg’s arrival, Pepe said: ‘As he was
a player, he understands us better.
‘He speaks a lot with us, so for us it is quite simple for us to
understand him like for him it is quite easy to understand us.

‘Right now there are some players who are playing others
who are not. That’s football, it’s like that. It is the coach who
decides.

‘If I am on the bench, it is up to me to put the work in to get
back in the starting line-up.’Pepe also admits he understands criticism following his
subdued start at Arsenal and insists he needs to improve in
several areas.

‘I would say that my start has been a bit negative,’ said
Pepe.
‘Based on my own expectations of myself, I expected a bit
more.

‘I expect more and it is up to me to work hard and make the
difference in each match.
‘It is normal for people to criticise me as much as they are
doing because I am not making the difference in each
match.

‘I understand them. It is certainly up to me to reverse this
situation through hard work.
‘There are lots of aspects that I need to improve.

‘Score more quickly, take the opportunities to score that I’ve
been missing. It’s like that, that’s football.
‘I also need to improve on the physical aspect because
coming from France to England, there is this box-to-box
aspect that you have to take into account.’