MX23RW : Sunday, May 19 18:03:59| >> :60:2470:2470:
[monks data]
Attendance: 53,298
Liverpool logo
Premier League | Gameweek 3
Aug 24, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

3-1

Matip (41'), Salah (49' pen., 58')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Torreira (85')

Unai Emery hints at first Nicolas Pepe start against Liverpool

Unai Emery hints at first Nicolas Pepe start against Liverpool
© Reuters
The Ivory Coast international has come off the bench in the opening two Premier League fixtures of the season.

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has hinted he could hand club-record signing Nicolas Pepe his first start as the Gunners travel to face Liverpool this weekend.

The Ivory Coast international has come off the bench in the opening two Premier League fixtures of the season.

He replaced Reiss Nelson at half-time in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Burnley and showed some good touches as he continues to build an understanding with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arsenal v Burnley – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Arsenal manager Unai Emery could give Pepe a start (Yui Mok/PA)

While Emery has often taken time to bed new players into his side, he feels the 24-year-old could now be ready to step up.

"The most important thing is, like a person, to help him and his family to feel comfortable here," Emery said of the £72million man.

"Now he is three weeks into working here with us. He didn't do the pre-season here but he's progressively feeling better.

"For example, in the first match, he played 15 minutes in Newcastle, then he played 45 minutes against Burnley. I think his individual performances are progressively getting better.

Arsenal v Burnley – Premier League – Emirates Stadium
Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe, left, featured against Burnley (Yui Mok/PA)

"For Saturday, he is maybe ready to have more minutes. I am going to decide tomorrow, but really his progress has been positive and has been good for the team and for him.

"The most important piece of the adaptation is to help him to feel easy and be comfortable with us."

Both Granit Xhaka and Mesut Ozil are expected to be fully recovered from the issues which kept them out of the Burnley win as Arsenal head back to Liverpool looking to escape the kind of thrashing they have endured there in recent years.

A 5-1 defeat last year was preceded by 4-0 and 3-1 losses under Arsene Wenger but Emery will not be letting the gravity of those results weigh heavy on his players heading into Saturday.

"Each match, each moment, each season is different," he added.

"We can use last year, two years ago, three years ago, four years ago (to learn).

"But really it's about our moment and this moment. Anfield is a big atmosphere with their supporters, they are a very good team and they advantage for us in their progress and in the last years.

"In Anfield they have one step more in feeling strong, but it's not for us, it's for all.

"We need to take our best performance and to go there with a good feeling and also thinking we can achieve that performance individually and collectively to be strong and to have our chances.

"We are looking forward to going there and showing that."

ID:368869: cacheID:368869:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7366:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kai Havertz in action for Bayer Leverkusen in April 2018
Read Next:
PL giants want Kai Havertz?
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!