UNAI EMERY has claimed Arsenal FORCED him to sign £72million winger Nicolas Pepe – when he wanted Crystal Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha.
The Gunners blitzed their transfer record to sign the 24-year-old Lille attacker – who scored 24 goals in France last season.
But the expensive flop bagged just six goals in 32 appearances for the North Londoners prior to the coronavirus lockdown.
Emery claims he held talks with Ivory Coast international Zaha, 27.
It is believed Palace wanted as much as £120m for Zaha, which priced the Gunners out of a move for the ex-Manchester United ace and boyhood Arsenal fan.
That lack of goals from Pepe, plus a series of poor results, led to Spaniard Emery getting the boot in November.
He was replaced by former Manchester City No2 and ex-Arsenal favourite Mikel Arteta.
Emery told the Guardian of Pepe: “He’s a good player but we didn’t know his character and he needs time, patience.
“I favoured someone who knew the league and wouldn’t need to adapt.
“Zaha won games on his own: Tottenham, Manchester City, us. Incredible performances. I told them: “This is the player I know and want”.
“I met Zaha and he wanted to come. The club decided Pepe was one for the future. I said: “Yes, but we need to win now and this lad wins games”. He beat us on his own.”
“It’s also true he was expensive and Palace didn’t want to sell.
“There were a series of decisions that had repercussions.”
Emery has also hit out at the lack of effort from Mesut Ozil during his time at the Emirates.
He left the £350,000-a-week German out of the side for most of his Premier League games in charge this season.
The 48-year-old claims he was badly let down over transfers.
He desperately wanted to keep Aaron Ramsey but Gunners execs would not go the extra mile so he left for Juventus.
Emery also lost key players Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Monreal, without adequate experienced players being signed to replace them.
