Robert Pires believes Arsenal fans must show patience with new summer signing Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe joined the Gunners from Lille for £72million in the summer, but is yet to hit the heights some Gunners expected.
The Ivory Coast international scored 22 goals in 38 Ligue 1 appearances last season, but is still waiting for his first goal for Unai Emery's side.
Pepe came off the bench for the final 30 minutes of Thursday night's win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, but despite his underwhelming start, Pires is calling on the Gunners faithful to give the 24-year-old time.
"With Lille, he was fantastic. Last season he was one of the best players, he scored 21 or 22 goals," the French World Cup winner told Reuters.
"He's a great player.
"Now he’s playing for Arsenal in the Premier League and he needs to adapt.
"It’s so difficult, very tough.
"So I want to say to the fans you need to be patient with Pepe."
One Arsenal legend who doesn't appear to have to much patience with Pepe is Martin Keown.
Speaking on BT Sport following the Gunners' Europa League win over Frankfurt, the former defender made a bold statement about the club's record signing and wonderkid Bukayo Saka.
"They toyed away trying to get young players in and they have found one in Saka," he said. "You think of the way Pepe is playing at the moment and they paid £72million for him, and this kid looks better than him tonight.
"By the way, Willock as well gets the reward and breakthrough moment for him. He gets a bit lucky but that is all 100 per cent the academy there.
"Yes they rode their luck. There were three or four good chances for Frankfurt tonight, but they kept going.
"And when he gets the ball here, the young kid Saka, look at this for composure, he's passed that into the goal - it's a beautiful finish.
"He's 18 years of age - unbelievable."
