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Nicolas Pepe has just not worked out for Arsenal and it might be time for the club to cut their losses and move on from the player.
THE LOWDOWN: A CLUB-RECORD FLOP
There was so much hype and positive hopes when Arsenal announced a club record transfer of £72million for Nicolas Pepe in 2019. Coming off the back of another impressive campaign for Lille, the Ivorian was expected to hit the ground running and offer the Gunners that lethal firepower in attack that was lacking.
Initial flashes of brilliance were soon followed up by underwhelming performances and overall disappointment. Fast forward to the present and the 27-year-old has failed to live anywhere close to the hype or expectation that came with his signing, coupled with his huge transfer fee.
The Ivorian now finds himself a fringe member of the Arsenal squad under Mikel Arteta and reports continue to link him with an exit from the club this summer. He could yet go down as one of the worst Arsenal signings in history and it is evident he just hasn’t fit in at the Emirates.
What went wrong for the Ivorian? Why did he struggle to make an impact? We’ll take a look at the key factors surrounding his time at Arsenal so far.
WHY HAS IT NOT WORKED OUT FOR PEPE AT ARSENAL?
To be fair, Pepe’s transfer to Arsenal had to go through a tussle of powers at the club. At the time, then boss Unai Emery preferred Pepe’s compatriot in Wilfried Zaha, but the club’s hierarchy decided against that. Spearheaded by Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal opted to sign Pepe instead and it was a move that eventually led to the sacking of the ex-Arsenal head of football.
The fact that Pepe was not wanted by Emery at the time created unnecessary tension to start with. As it is the case with English media and expensive signings, the Ivorian was under the spotlight even more, given his transfer fee and the point that he was Arsenal’s record signing.
On the pitch though, Pepe can only blame himself and the major reason behind his struggles in English football comes from the fact that he has failed to adapt.
Pepe predominantly plays with his left and has failed to at least improve on the usage of his weaker foot. Featuring on the right flank, it has become commonplace to see him push the ball and cut back to the left, before trying to bend a curler into the net. This is the trademark for many of his goals but his over-reliance on his left has made him too predictable.
You would have to go back to October 2021 to find the last time the Ivorian started a Premier League game and that says a lot.
WHAT IS THE LATEST TRANSFER STORY SURROUNDING PEPE?
The Ivorian dropped a recent hint he is in search of an exit from Arsenal, having changed agents ahead of the transfer window back in May.
To go with, Pepe is labeled as not part of Mikel Arteta’s plans so much that the Gunners are ready to count their losses on the Ivorian. Infact, Arsenal are ready to accept as low as £25-30m for the player, despite the player having two years remaining on his current contract.
A return to France seems like the likely outcome and the player has been linked with a move to Marseille as well as another stint with former side Lille. However, both sides will struggle to match his current weekly wages of £140,000-a-week. Much recently, Sevilla are the latest side to show interest in the Ivorian but once again, his wages would be an issue for the Spanish outfit.
THE VERDICT: AN EXIT MAKES SENSE FOR ALL PARTIES
With two years left on his current deal, it would make sense for Arsenal to sort out the player’s situation now rather than waiting until he nearly runs out his current contract. This would also mean the club can get a ‘decent’ amount from his sale now, rather than ending up losing him for free.
Still 27, Pepe will also be left with some time to re-ignite his career if he makes a switch this summer, compared to the end of his contract, when he would be approaching 30.
Pepe leaving Arsenal also means the club will be able to raise funds for summer signings. On a closer look, the Ivorian could be an attractive tactic for a player exchange/player plus cash deal with other sides.ar
Since joining Arsenal, Pepe has scored 27 goals and recorded 21 assists in 112 appearances across all competitions. However, his days at the club are numbered and he could be on his way out this summer. The Ivorian remains a quality player but perhaps a change of atmosphere is what he needs to get back to his best.
AND in other news, Forgotten man still seeking exit door at Arsenal
