Nicolas Pépé is struggling to find his footing at Arsenal, and criticism from fans and pundits has started to mount. However, the Ivorian winger still counts some influential supporters, including Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who was officially appointed as manager of the Montreal Impact this Thursday.
Henry spoke out in defense of Pépé, urging people to ease up on the young star and stop judging him solely based on his hefty transfer fee.
“When you arrive at a club like that, people will always talk and put you under the microscope. He has to focus on playing his game and not listen to the noise. People need to forget about the price tag — he didn’t choose that himself,” Henry told the Evening Standard.
The French World Cup winner emphasized the challenges Pépé faces in adjusting to a new league.
“It’s never easy to arrive at a new team and adapt to a different style of play. The Premier League is very different from Ligue 1 or any other league. He needs time to adjust, and we have to give him that opportunity,” Henry added.
This isn’t the first time Pépé has received backing from former Arsenal stars. Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, and Nwanko Kanu have all previously spoken out in favor of the Ivorian, encouraging patience as he settles in.
Whether Henry’s latest appeal will ease the pressure on Pépé and calm the critics remains to be seen, but it’s a reminder that even talented players need time to adapt, especially after moving from Ligue 1 to the Premier League.
