Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal: 5 players Nicolas Pepe should take inspiration from

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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14 Oct 2000: Robert Pires of Arsenal controls the midfield during the FA Carling Premiership match against Aston Villa played at Highbury, in London. Arsenal won the match 1-0. Photo taken by Steve Bardens Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport
14 Oct 2000: Robert Pires of Arsenal controls the midfield during the FA Carling Premiership match against Aston Villa played at Highbury, in London. Arsenal won the match 1-0. Photo taken by Steve Bardens Mandatory Credit: Allsport UK /Allsport /

2. Robert Pires

Pepe is not the first player to struggle as he adapts to life in the Premier League. He will also not be the last. And in Arsenal legend Robert Pires, he has the perfect individual to learn from, a Frenchman who struggled mightily in his first season at the club before then becoming one of the Gunners’ greatest-ever players.

“Wenger put me on the bench for my first game, against Sunderland,” Pires told Sportsmail in 2017 when recounting his early time at Highbury. “He said ‘I know you are disappointed, I know you wanted to play but trust me, just sit and watch.’ After 20 minutes of watching the game, I said to myself, ‘What am I doing here, this football is not for me. I cannot play here.’”

“The first six or seven months were very hard,” Pires continued. “It’s very tough in the UK. For me, it was totally different. English football and French football are not the same. You need to learn spirit, to learn fight. And to fight not only in the game but also during the training session. And that was all new to me.”

Pires was named the PFA Footballer of the Year the very next season and played a crucial role in the most successful period under Arsene Wenger. Pepe might never reach the Frenchman’s tremendous heights, but he can certainly improve on his first season in the league.

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