Arsenal fans have taken to social media to hail forward Nicolas Pepe following his two goals against Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes in the UEFA Europa League at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.
With the Gunners trailing 1-2, the Ivory Coast international was introduced by coach Unai Emery and he went on to turn the game around scoring two beautiful free kicks to win the game for under-fire Spanish tactician and also eased the criticism against him that has been on the rise in recent weeks.
Marcus Edwards put the visitors in front inside the first eight minutes before Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli drew the Gunners level in the 32nd minute. The parity lasted for just four minutes before Bruno Duarte restored the visitors’ lead as the teams left for the breather with the Portuguese side on the driving seat.
Arsenal found the going tough against a stubbornly defensive Guimares side and 15 minutes, Emery made a change that turned the match in the Gunners’ favor. He withdrew French forward, Alexandre Lacazette for Pepe and five minutes later, the hosts got the equalizer courtesy of a beautiful free-kick from the former Lille man.
The left-footed forward then went on to silence his critics further with another stunning free-kick deep into stoppage time, a goal that won his side the game and maintained Arsenal’s lead at the helm.
The goals will surely ease the pressure on the Gunners’ number 19 who has been on the spotlight in recent weeks for failing to replicate last season’s form with Lille. An exemplary season in French Ligue 1 convinced the Gunners to splash 72 million pounds to acquire his services. Before last night’s match, he had found the back of the net just once, from the penalty spot.
Arsenal fans set social media ablaze hailing the forward.
Arsenal fans right now after Nicolas Pepe scored two free kick goals!pic.twitter.com/BGk1ZIjGUY
— Omoniyi Israel (@_omoissy) October 24, 2019
The only person who had a better time than Nicolas Pepe at the Emirates tonight 😂 pic.twitter.com/SvTfUvdgbe
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 24, 2019
Pépé deserves a night like tonight. He came with a huge price-tag which he didn’t put on himself & has been up against it from the start. A poor system, limited creativity & no natural right back for support. He admit that he must improve, so hopefully tonight is the start.
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) October 24, 2019
Pepe did not celebrate his goals that much.Sign of someone who wants more. He knows this is just the beginning.
— LTArsenal™ (@ltarsenal) October 24, 2019
Video: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, rested for tonight’s match against Vitoria, celebrating Nicolas Pepe’s winning goal in stoppage time. 😍😍 [@shah486] #afc pic.twitter.com/tEKGILKmz0
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) October 24, 2019
Retweet for Messi . Like for Nicolas Pepe #ARSVSC pic.twitter.com/fjqAVtBdup
— MONITORING_SPIRIT (@Sonjoe_Kutuh) October 24, 2019
Nicolas Pepe scoring 2 wonderful FK goals.
Man Utd fans: pic.twitter.com/REnm44wesQ
— Omoniyi Israel (@_omoissy) October 24, 2019
Nicolas Pepe > Wilfred Zaha pic.twitter.com/QFR5GUE6Zt
— 𝒩 (@ArsenalHQ19) October 24, 2019
This is the night NICOLAS PEPE really arrive at Arsenal 🔥🔥 #ARSVSC pic.twitter.com/1OYR0fL5rn
— Kamal Rahman | YT 🔌 (@DatIwoBoy) October 24, 2019