Ljungberg set to talk to struggling Pepe over recent form

Freddie Ljungberg does not believe Nicolas Pepe is suffering from a crisis of confidence at Arsenal but does plan to sit down with the winger to discuss his struggles this season.

“Nico is someone who is a very, very good player but sometimes when you come from a different league it takes time to adapt,” said Ljungberg. “Off the pitch and on the pitch.

“But Nico is someone I plan on talking to. We are going to have a little chat about things, how he feels, because he is an important football player.”

When asked if he believed Pepe’s poor form was down to a loss of confidence, Ljungberg added: “No, I don’t. I just think it’s a new country and a new way of playing.

“I’m going to have a chat with him about what I expect and how I want to play.”

That match will fall on the first day of the January transfer window, a month which could see the Gunners dip into the transfer market to boost their squad ahead of the second half of the campaign.

For interim boss Ljungberg, though, what may happen in the transfer market is not of concern.

“At the moment I’m just looking at the next game,” he said. “I don’t look at the transfer window.

“If I’m there at that time then maybe that’s a discussion to be had, but at the moment I’m here on a game-to-game basis and that’s what I’m trying to fix.”