---
title: "Arsenal: Fans bemoan Unai Emery’s late substitution of Nicolas Pepe"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fans-bemoan-unai-emerys-late-substitution-of-nicolas-pepe/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Uways Nisar"
section: "Arsenal Football Club"
published: "2019-11-10T19:25:22Z"
modified: "2019-11-10T19:25:22Z"
---

# Arsenal: Fans bemoan Unai Emery’s late substitution of Nicolas Pepe

**Arsenal fans bemoaned Unai Emery’s late substitution of record-signing Nicolas Pepe in the 2-0 defeat away to Leicester City yesterday.**

The Basque-born manager sent on the Ivory Coast international for Rob Holding in the 76th minute of the clash, with the Gunners already two-down to the Foxes.

It was the second Premier League game on the trot the 24-year-old had been left on the bench. Pepe has struggled for regular goals at the north London giants this season, scoring just three goals in his 15 appearances in all competitions, with all three coming from set-pieces [(via Transfermarkt)](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nicolas-pepe/leistungsdaten/spieler/343052).

Emery made some surprising comments on Pepe prior to the game against the Foxes, saying he expected him to struggle in the first year following his £72m move from Lille in the summer [(via Sky Sports)](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11670/11857129/unai-emery-exclusive-interview-arsenal-boss-defiant-on-vision-despite-mounting-pressure).

Fans were frustrated after the Spanish coach brought on the player with the side already 2-0 down as they took to Twitter to react.

Here is a selection of tweets from the north London faithful:

> 76 minutes too late [#EmeryOut](https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmeryOut?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
>
> — Sam (@iwobiflick17) [November 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/iwobiflick17/status/1193242963025055744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 76 minutes too late but ok
>
> — T (@afcTB) [November 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/afcTB/status/1193242939985674240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> The state of this substitution
>
> — 1Ö (@MesutOzilClass) [November 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/MesutOzilClass/status/1193242998810828802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Very effective when we’re 2-0 down with 15mins to go
>
> — Finn (@FinnJJD) [November 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/FinnJJD/status/1193243038799335425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 20 minutes too late.
>
> — Sam (@SK\_arsenal) [November 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/SK_arsenal/status/1193243248464138246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Took your sweet time unai
>
> — Ermis (@Ermis\_\_) [November 9, 2019](https://twitter.com/Ermis__/status/1193242966497910785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***Arsenal fans, what did you make of the timing of the Pepe sub? Let us know your thoughts!***