Nicolas Pepe reveals how Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal’s flops with change of system and tactics
NICOLAS PEPE has opened up on how new Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has already masterminded a significant improvement in the Gunners' performances.
The £72million Ivorian was on the scoresheet as Arsenal swept Manchester United aside at the Emirates last night.
The 2-0 triumph has given fans and players alike a major lift as they seek to climb up the Premier League table.
On his first inclusion from the start under Arteta, Pepe told French TV network RMC Sport: "I had a discussion with the coach this morning and he told me I was going to start and asked if I felt ready and stuff like that.
"I told him I felt ready. I showed tonight that I was ready.
"As well, today it is my mother's birthday, I score today, so it is only positive for me and the team."
And on how the Gunners' new manager has managed to improve their performances so quickly, Pepe pointed at the thorough video work done before yesterday's match.
He said: "This one feels a lot better. We scored twice, we conceded zero goals. This will really do a lot for everyone's confidence levels.
"We are doing a lot, a lot of video during training in order to perform well during the match. Today we performed well, we were solid defensively, we were good going forward.
"It is all new for us. A new system, new instructions. We are adapting quickly.
"That has been seen in the last three matches, even though we did not win, we were very good, we were just missing the victory, which we were able to do tonight. We need to continue like this.
"Now we have to go on a run to get to this top four that we need to do."
Going into the match, Arsenal had sat just four points above the relegation zone.
But Pepe's opener, followed by Sokratis' close-range strike fired the Gunners to a well deserved victory... and back into the top half of the table.
Arteta's side are back in action on Monday night when they take on Marcelo Bielsa's high-flying Leeds United at the Emirates in the FA Cup.