Nicolas Pepe has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta ahead of the January transfer window, leaving the 26-year-old with an up hill battle should he look to turn the tide.
Arsenal’s £72 million winger is yet to justify his eye-watering price tag since swapping north France for north London in 2019, despite having been handed numerous chances to do so.
The Ivory Coast international has, though, shown glimpses of magic since joining from Lille but he’s failed to sustain a level of performance that his price tag demands, which has seen his boss drop him on numerous occasions.
Pepe has played just five minutes from a possible five Premier League fixtures in which he was in the squad despite having started the season with fours starts from a possible five.
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With opportunities of the essence, Arteta’s latest decision has seeming made his feelings clear regarding Pepe’s future in north London.
The Ivorian winger was overlooked on three occasions at Old Trafford as the Arsenal boss plotted his side’s pursuit of regaining a lead, adding fuel to the growing rumours regarding a January exit.
On the first instance, Bukayo Saka was chosen – which is expected – to replace Emile Smith Rowe before Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette were brought into play for Martin Odegaard and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, retrospectively.
Arteta’s decision to pledge confidence in Nketiah over Pepe should hand the winger a stern wake-up call.
Baring in mind that the 22-year-old is an out of favour striker who was without any 2021/22 Premier League minutes prior to the second-half introduction and had just five top-flight goals to his name.
Pepe has seemingly fallen down the pecking order at Arsenal and the Spaniard’s decision to opt against his involvement raises questions that could be answered in January.
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https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/mikel-artetas-told-edu-sell-22362534
