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Record signing Pepe in line to start at Anfield - Emery


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Arsenal boss Unai Emery says record-signing Nicolas Pepe is likely to get his first start in Saturday's Premier League game at Liverpool.

The £72-million Ivory Coast forward has been used from the bench in their opening two league matches against Newcastle and Burnley.

But Emery feels the 24-year-old is now ready to be used from the start:

"The most important thing is, like a person, to help him and his family to feel comfortable here, 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.

"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."

European champions Liverpool won 5-1 in the fixture last season but the Gunners boss feels that result is irrelevant going into this weekend:

"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."

 


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