Arsenal: Pepe demonstrates incredible skill during training
Arsenal interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg says he is planning to speak to Nicolas Pepe in a bid to rectify his poor form. Pepe made a promising start to his Arsenal career after joining for £72million in the summer. But the 24-year-old has been unable to maintain his form and scored just one goal in 12 Premier League games.
Most worryingly, Pepe has not been able to get minutes on the pitch and failed to appear in Unai Emery’s final four games of his reign.
And on Sunday, with Arsenal chasing a winner against Norwich, Ljungberg opted to bring on teenagers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli over Pepe.
Ljungberg then claimed his decision was based on performances in training, suggesting Pepe was not performing to his satisfaction.
But Ljungberg says he will talk to Pepe privately about how to get the best from him.
Nicolas Pepe has not delivered for Arsenal this season (Image: GETTY)
"Nico is someone who is a very, very good player," Ljungberg said.
"But sometimes when you come from a different league it takes time to adapt. Off the pitch and on the pitch.
"But Nico is someone I plan on talking to.
“We are going to have a little chat about things, how he feels because he is an important football player.
Nicolas Pepe could come back into the Arsenal team tonight (Image: GETTY)
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And Ljungberg says he is well aware of the threat the Seagulls pose.
He said: “Yes, I watched them a little bit, they look good, they change formations a lot, so we will see what they come with.
“They try to play out, defend well, they look very organised but for me we need to concentrate on our own game.
“We play at home so I take into account how I think they will play but I have to develop the gameplan how we want to play football and that’s what I try to concentrate on.”