Reading striker Yakou Meite has backed Nicolas Pepe to excel at the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal's club record signing eagerly awaits his first start for the club.
24-year-old Pepe has given Arsenal fans flashes of what to expect in the coming months after two substitute appearances so far in the Premier League and is in contention to start at Anfield on Saturday.
Unai Emery may still elect to wait to unleash Pepe fully until after the international break, with testing matches against Liverpool and Tottenham on the horizon, but Meite has given fans further reason to be excited.
A childhood friend of Arsenal's number 19, he revealed that Pepe used to be a goalkeeper and has backed his close friend to shine in the coming years with Arsenal.
“He was a goalkeeper at the time so I used to practise trying to score against him. Life is weird. Sometimes he would get bored and come out to play on the wing. He was very good," he told the Guardian .
“We used to live near each other and also went to the same school so we are good friends. I’ve already tried to help him a bit.
"I said to him I am not far from London, so let me know.
“He is very happy to be at Arsenal and is very excited for the season. I’m sure he is going to do well because he has a lot of quality.”
