Despite been capped as a flop, Nicolas Pepe towards the ending of last season was very impressive in the league for the Gunners, impressive enough to get a nomination for the Premier League player of the month of May.
Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Arsenal at The King Power Stadium on October 30, 2021 in Leicester, England. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
Overall in the league last season, he was able to produce ten goals, same number managed by club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the league for Mikel Arteta’s side despite the Ivorian making just 16 starts. No player scored more league goals than him.
Overall, only Aubameyang managed to score more than the one time most expensive African player, who registered 16 goals in all competitions for the North London club.
Out of the 16 league starts were games where the Gunners played without a good part of their regulars. Moreso, fixtures considerably tougher for them. Until the later part of last season that he was able to get good game time in the league, and he did played like a player worth £72m.
In the Europa league, he was one of the best players in the competition, contributing six goals and four assists in Arsenal’s road to losing to Villarreal in the semi final. He was at the time performing in the Europa league while he missed out in the league.
However, the situation has degraded again in the new season. Since the club is not playing in Europe, the former Lille player has been limited to just five league starts, starts which came earlier in the season, when almost seven other first team regulars were on the sidelines and the Gunners lost each of their first three games.
Thereafter, he assisted their first goal in the league this season, although in an awkward fashion and since then made just one league start.
In Arsenal’s last game against Everton at the Goodison, Pepe hit the headline again after Mikel Arteta decided to bring on Eddie Nketiah when the Gunners are 1-0 up.
The decision backfired as the Gunners conceded and equaliser, and Nketiah missed a glorious opportunity to restore Arsenal’s lead, missing a header from close range. Everton went on to score in added time to seal a first win in nine games.
Where did it go wrong ?
Pepe, without a doubt a talented player and in a team like Arsenal, should get his game time secured. However, his lack of consistency has costed him. Time and again, he has fallen out of favour of the fans with his attitude at intervals.
Even at that, Pepe has caused division amongst the fans with some part believing in his abilities, while some are disgusted with his attitude, and his inability to impose himself in games.
So far, Pepe has made 98 appearances for the Gunners since joining from Lille in 2019. He has been able to produce 25 goals and assisting 18 others. Maybe not an impressive number enough for a player that cost so much but his surroundings have not been that consistence either.
Only towards the end of last season has Pepe get run of games with the regular first team players and did he not impress ? The manager has not been patient and understanding enough on the player, who has arrived in the midst of an unsettled environment.
Time now is running out for him to justify his move. He signed a five year contract over two years ago and now he has just half of that time left on his time at the club, which he will surely not be interested in a renewal.
Mikel Arteta in particular seems to have lost faith in the 26 year old as he rarely now call on him in games, a choice which will not do well for the Gunners and their investment three summers ago.
What now for Nicolas Pepe ?
No denying the truth that Pepe has not justify the prize tag on him, however, having him always on the bench will do nothing to help Arsenal realize anything from the deal that brought lot of controversies on those in charge of the transfer in that time.
Pepe needs a run of games, which Mikel Arteta is not ready to give. Recently, it has cost him his place with the Ivorian National Team and now he is in danger of not getting much playtime in the forthcoming African Cup of Nations.
Pepe, when given game time has shown what he could do even though not with much consistency. But would Arsenal rather have him not playing even when those playing have not been delivering ?
Recently, Bukayo Saka has been passive in games. Even when he was eventually substituted, Pepe, who is a direct replacement for the Hale Ender was overlooked time and again.
With rumours of him moving away in January continuing to trend, it will be much to the disappointment of Arsenal and their faithfuls, if the player that costed them £72m move elsewhere and finally find his feet again.
Author: Afolabi Kehinde Hassan
