Confusion as Arsenal manager Emery names 1 flop he was forced to sign
Nicolas Pepe joined Arsenal for £72million in 2019, but former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has stated that he was forced to sign the Ivorian international, SunSport reports.
The ex-Gunners’ boss claimed that he had wanted the £120million Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha who he claimed he was in talks with.
Pepe has not been impressive since joining the Emirates club as he has only managed just 6 goals in 32 matches for the club in all competitions.
Emery was sacked in November 2019 as Arsenal’s woeful form was compounded by lack of goals.
Mikel Arteta has since taken over as the famous Arsenal football club continue their quest to returning to glory days.
“He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience,” Emery on Pepe
“I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt.
“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.”
However, former Manchester United star Gary Neville has questioned the rationale behind the club wanting to sign 30-year-old Odion Ighalo permanently for £20million.
Ighalo made instant statement since his arrival at the Old Trafford club on loan from Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua scoring four goals in his eight appearances for the Reds.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly impressed with the former Watford man and it was gathered that he is ready to splash £20 million ($25m) on the ex-Watford striker.
ngnews247.com earlier reported that Arsenal star Joseph Olowu has expressed his desire to play for Nigeria having played for the England U23 national team.
Olowu who was born in Ibadan in 1999 is not age-eligible to join the Flying Eagles at the 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also cannot play in the 2024 Olympic Games for the West African nation, but has a chance to play for the Nigerian senior national team.
In a recent live chat on Instagram with Eagles Tracker, the 20-year-old was quoted as saying he is looking forward to playing for the Nigerian national team.