Nicolas Pepe: The Nutmeg Express!

He doesn’t need to justify the price tag at all. He didn’t decide that. He needs to prove that he can deliver for the team and the stats show that he does.

 

Balls in his court and he’s capable.

 

Saka is a world class talent, there's nothing there for Pepe or anyone else. It doesn't matter if he is 19, RW is his now and that will stay like that for many years. Pepe can only look to rotate with him and try to get another position where he will play more often or would even be a strarter

 

Or he can start on the left like he did yesterday? It doesn't have to be one or the other.

 

I keep saying we need him in central areas, I'd love to see what happened if we gave him complete license to roam around and find dangerous pockets.

 

I agree. He's playing too wide most times. He makes good runs off the ball so being more central would yield more results

 

This is a nice idea but I think he'd get lost having complete licence to roam. I think he'd run and run aimlessly and burn out. What I like better is the interchanging of positions amongst the front 3.

 

Play him lw or cf, he needs to run at goal and shoot rather than the tricks. If you watch his goal the other night then it is clear.

 

I'm thinking on the left works better for him. It could be to do with Bellerin, not sure. All I know is he looks better on the left and doesn't find himself as stranded as he does on the right.

 

Hopefully we capitalise on Laca's good form and get a good fee in the summer. It'd be great if Arteta transformed Pepe into a decent CF - it seems like the kind of thing Wenger did all the time whenever our CF was poached.

I'm getting the unfortunate feeling Pepe will be squeezed out with Ødegaard's signing. Saka has RW locked down right now. When Auba is available, he will almost certainly play LW. ESR & Ødegaard will rotate the 10.

Going forward beyond next season I'd love to see Pepe up front. It's the dream but I doubt it'll happen with bad vibes mik, aka The PE Teacher, aka Interview Interrupter. aka Tapas Pulis

@BigPoppaPump @Trilly did I miss any mikel slurs?

 

I think there's room for him on the left if we eventually play 433. He'll compete with Auba and Martinelli unless one of them moves to CF. On the right, there's Saka. CF seems best for him but he's so inconsistent atm, that I'd be wary of relying too much on him over a season

 

Why didn't Willian make the run? He would have set himself up to get through clear on goal.

 

The thread title is absolutely crap though, especially as there's so many funny ones on the forum lately.

Can mods or someone assist? The Pepe hive deserves better.

 

Unfortunately Mikel is winning games so the slander is on hold. If he beats United convincingly I might allow him for the rest of the season uno.

Pepe has all the attributes to be a nice CF but it rarely works like that in real life. Maybe if we played a false 9 type system but only Pep is brave enough to do that.

 

Pepe just needs the confidence to play to the best of his abilities. If he does that he could be our best player. None of our players can create space and chances for themselves as easily as he can it’s a mental thing with him.

 

The 19 year old took the position from Willian, not Pepe. Pepe is starting to show consistent mature displays and it would be unfair for him to be dropped.

 

He deserves a start vs United but so does Aubameyang if he’s available. I just wish he could get a run of starts in the team, he’s not the type of player to flourish with limited opportunities.

 

I want him to start on the left tomorrow, let Auba take his time to be worked back in.

 

I agree with this Auba is established and can slot in easily while Pepe needs a run of games to establish himself. I want to see him on the left drifting in like the did in the last game the front 3 seems more balanced with Pepe and Saka in the wide positions.

 

Bottom line , if Pepe gains confidence and takes what is given, we have a very, very good front line with options.

Things are looking up. Baggage is heading out. Quality is inbound. Players are looking happier. In think we are just a few players away from top 4 consistency.