Unai Emery says he wanted player who ‘won games on his own’ at Arsenal

Follow us on Google Discover

Unai Emery has told The Guardian that he wanted to sign Wilfried Zaha for Arsenal last summer.

The former Arsenal manager has also said that he did not want to bring Nicolas Pepe to the club in the summer of 2019.

The Gunners signed the 24-year-old winger from Lille last summer for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £72 million.

Emery has said that he met Zaha and that the Crystal Palace winger wanted to move to Arsenal, but the club decided to sign Pepe instead.

Emery told The Guardian: “We signed [Nicolas] Pepe. He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience. I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt.

“[Wilfried] Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances. I told them: ‘This is the player I know and want.’ I met Zaha and he wanted to come.

“The club decided Pepe was one for the future. I said: ‘Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games.’ He beat us on his own.

“It’s also true he was expensive and Palace didn’t want to sell. There were a series of decisions that had repercussions.”

Stats

According to WhoScored, Pepe has made 17 starts and seven substitute appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal so far this season, scoring four goals and providing six assists in the process.

The Ivory Coast international has also made two starts and four substitute appearances in the Europa League for the Gunners this campaign, scoring two goals and providing two assists in the process, according to WhoScored.

Zaha has made 28 starts and one substitute appearances in the Premier League for Palace so far this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists in the process, according to WhoScored.

Football in England is suspended at the moment, and it remains to be seen when the season resumes.