Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has revealed Nicolas Pepe "needed time to adapt" after his big-money move from Lille last summer.
The Ivory Coast international signed for a club-record £72 million, but struggled to make an instant impact which affected the club's form and culminated in the sacking of Emery.
Things have changed a bit under new boss Mikel Arteta, with Pepe now playing a more prominent role.
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"We needed time to succeed with our transition to a new Arsenal which is what I wanted," he told France Football as per Get Football News France.