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Arsenal 2-goal ace Pepe: I know I can do better

Arsenal attacker Nicolas Pepe admits he's not met expectations.

Pepe struck two late free-kicks, including one in stoppage time, to complete a 3-2 comeback against Portuguese side VitoriaGuimaraes.

Yet despite his match-winning contribution, the 24-year-old admitted he has not been good enough.

“As soon as I arrived Pierre {Emerick Aubameyang] and Alexandre [Lacazette] helped me," Pepe said. "I talked a lot to them.

“The manager trusts me. Even if I hadn't been decisive, I had the manager's trust. It is always important to have the manager's faith.

“Of course I knew it would be hard. This is a league totally different to Ligue 1. There is a different intensity.

“I had to adapt quickly because expectations were high. Unfortunately, that is not what I did at the beginning - but I had the manager's trust and the players have supported me. I keep working hard."

It was only the second match he has scored in for Arsenal, and is still yet to find the net from open play, but he was pleased his Gunners career is going in the right direction.

“The key is to have good people around you," Pepe added. "I have my family here with me so I could be good mentally when things were not going well.

"I rely a lot on them. It was always going to be difficult to come here to the unknown, with a different language.

“I am not at my best physically because I didn't have a proper pre-season. I was at the African Cup of Nations. I am trying to work hard to be stronger physically."

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Paul Vegas

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