Arsenal beat Vitoria de Guimaraes with two Nicolas Pepe goals.
Arsenal boss Unai Emery has told The Mirror that he thought Nicolas Pepe’s impact against Vitoria de Guimaraes was ‘perfect’.
The Gunners needed a result tonight, as they hosted Portuguese side Vitoria in a game that Unai Emery simply couldn’t afford to lose, having been beaten 1-0 at Sheffield United on Monday night.
Tonight’s Europa League game didn’t exactly start well for Arsenal, as ex-Tottenham talent Marcus Edwards popped up with the opener for Vitoria, before Gabriel Martinelli pulled Arsenal level.
Slack play from Ainsley Maitland-Niles saw Vitoria go back in front though, as Bruno Duarte crashed home Vitoria’s second to put them back in front at a stunned Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal needed a hero late on, and substitute Pepe came up with the goods, bending home a left-footed free kick to haul the Gunners level.
With almost the last kick of the game, Arsenal had one last chance to win it, and Pepe took the chance as he scored yet another free kick, sealing a 3-2 win for the Gunners.
The record signing from Lille has been slammed for weeks for poor displays, though criticism of his performance against Sheffield United seemed harsh given that he was actually Arsenal’s brightest player.
Now, boss Emery has admitted that he is ‘very happy’ for Pepe, and felt that he was ‘perfect’ when he came on as he looks to build form and confidence with his new club.
“For him it is important,” said Emery. “He can have the confidence but when he can score it is better for the team and for him. He is getting better playing minutes, playing matches, scoring goals like tonight. He helped us tonight to win the match.”
“New players usually need time for that adaptation and Pepe is a good player we believe in totally. He’s improving and tonight his two goals were very important. Pepe was perfect and finished this match which we deserved to win. We are very happy for him,” he added.
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