Gunner be great FANS HAVE TO STAY PATIENT WITH KIDS ROBERT PIRES
EXCLUSIVE
ARSENAL boss Unai Emery insists he tries to keep a good perspective on things, even though anything other than a win against Aston Villa will put the spotlight back on him.
Emery said: “When we are winning I stay calm, when we are losing I stay calm.
“We have that responsibility for our supporters. We know the most important thing in our work is to play for them.
“Each match is very important because we have a lot of supporters in London, England and also worldwide.
“We know our responsibility and we know we want to give them special moments and to feel connected with us because it is not only how we can win it is also how we can play.” ROBERT PIRES has urged Arsenal fans to keep the faith with Unai Emery’s young stars.
The Gunners are now without a Premier League win in three games.
Back-to-back 2-2 draws with Watford and Tottenham followed a 3-1 drubbing by Liverpool.
To make matters worse, their record £72million signing Nicolas Pepe is still yet to find the net.
Club legend Pires admits the Ivory Coast international needs to up his game but he has told supporters to keep backing him.
“He needs to prove himself because last year with Lille he scored 22 goals and was one of the best players in Ligue 1,” he said.
“My message for the fans with Pepe is they need to be patient.
“The Premier League is very difficult, complicated and tough.
“For Pepe we need to be patient because, believe me, he’s a great player.” Despite Arsenal’s lacklustre start, one rising star in Emery’s ranks is Matteo Guendouzi.
The midfielder, 20, is only starting his second season in North London and has been a standout performer for the Gunners.
Guendouzi cost just £7m from French side Lorient in
2018 and Pires reckons Arsenal have found themselves a gem.
“Seven million is nothing for Arsenal,” Pires (right) said.
“It was a very good deal for the club and for Matteo.
“Today he is playing for Arsenal and knows there is a lot of pressure
– but I like him because he’s very confident. He has very good technique and vision but can also play it simple.
“I think he will be a big success with Arsenal and maybe with France.
“Of course he can get better. You have to get better every day for yourself, your team-mates and the manager.
“I think he can reach a high level with Arsenal and I want that for him.”
The Gunners’ draw with Watford last week was blighted by defensive errors from Sokratis and David Luiz. However, Pires says Arsenal are not the only team leaking goals and believes the issues can be rectified.
He said: “Every team seems to have problems with their defence. “Manchester City against Norwich, Liverpool against Napoli and even Barcelona in La Liga. “But I don’t like it when we just talk about the defence. It’s not only the four defenders. “When you attack, you attack together. When you lose the ball, you defend together. “It can’t just be about the defenders.”