• Arsenal 3-2 Vitória Guimarães• Martinelli 32, Pépé 80 90; Edwards 8, Da Silva 36For a long time it seemed Thursday nights, which have become Arsenal’s haven from the tide of neurosis that engulfs their domestic affairs, would be struck off the list of safe spaces. This was a confused, deeply uninspired performance that will largely be forgotten because Nicolas Pépé, the club’s £72m record signing who had been under mounting pressure to deliver, came off the bench to score two marvellous free-kicks in the last 10 minutes and create a silver lining where the clouds had been jet black.Pépé had been criticised for missing a clear chance in Monday’s defeat at Sheffield United and Unai Emery had made little secret of the fact his adaptation since arriving from Lille has been faltering. But his reputation for set-piece prowess precedes him and when he lined up his first, 25 yards out and at an angle to the right, there was cause to think he was Arsenal’s best bet of a bailout. Continue reading…
Via: Pépé double rescues Arsenal after Vitória Guimarães threaten upset
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