Former Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has said that Nicolas Pepe is suffering at Arsenal due to the pressure of his price-tag.
The Frenchman signed from Lille this summer in a £72m deal following an impressive season in which he scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists. However, the 22-year-old has found it difficult to adapt to life at the Emirates, having scored only one goal in the Premier League till now.
“I think the big price tag doesn’t help,” Evra said.
“It puts on pressure and some fans don’t understand. It doesn’t guarantee you 30 goals in the first season.”
“Aubameyang was in a different situation. He had played for many years, scoring many goals for many years.”
“You have to give time to Pepe. I believe in this player.”
“I think he just needs to realise the Premier League is completely different to the Premier League. You should be stronger.”
“Maybe he should go in the gym and build a really massive body and you will see, because he’s talented. The problem is he is under pressure.”
“I want to see if now, mentally, he will be strong enough like myself.”
“I came to Manchester and in my first six months even Scholesy says he was thinking I was a joke and they should sell me back to Monaco.”
“Those things, they helped me. They made me stronger, when people were laughing.”
“Me and Vidic, when we were substituted in a reserve team game, everyone was saying we were so poor, but we proved them wrong.”
“Mentally, let’s see if Pepe will be ready, but I believe in this player.
“It’s completely different. It’s a new world.”
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