Nicolas Pepe’s agent Samir Khiat has defended the player after Pepe got taken off during Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Leeds United.
However, not everyone defended Pepe – like Tony Adams, who has called the forward ‘ silly.’ Pepe was given a red card after a brawl with a Leeds United player.
The legendary former Gunners captain told Stadium Astro: “I can’t defend him at all. He’s got frustrated because there is huge pressure, the Leeds player is completely down his neck.
“You are entitled to do that, that is great defending for me. You have got to take that in your stride.
“If a defender is not pressurising you, then he’s not doing his job.
“I can’t defend the guy at all, he has been very silly on this occasion. It kind of killed Arsenal because they had to go back and completely defend.
“It goes back to previously, the way that the defender was pressurising him all over the pitch and Pepe didn’t like that. He has got provoked and turned around and headbutted him.
“It’s the way you react to that kind of pressure. You react by creating problems and scoring goals. There are kids watching and that was a really bad example.”
His agent Khiat told L’Equipe: “Nicolas did well at Lille. We are always expecting more from Nicolas Pepe which is normal because he has been transferred to Arsenal for a consequent transfer fee.
“When you look at the chances created by Arsenal for the past two seasons, Pepe has been the attacking player who created most of the chances with Aubameyang.
“He is still adapting and he is requested to perform better, which is normal, he has been transferred for an important fee and he knows it.
“Nicolas is not cheating, he is not a cheater. He maybe needs more time to adapt, but it will eventually work well.”
