There is no doubt that the transfer of Nicolas Pepe from Lille to Arsenal is a huge story and not just in England and France but worldwide.
I reckon if I would have visited news websites in almost every country on planet earth that there would have been an article about the transfer, maybe not North Korea though.
From China to Australia to India to Egypt the record-breaking transfer was covered in some form or another.
I have made a very small list below but trust me, it could have run into hundreds.
Spain
Marca believe that Arsenal now have a squad equipped to make a real impact and that “Emery’s new Arsenal team can now compete with the big boys in England”
AS have published a long article asking Who is the Gunners’ new record signing? It is well worth a read.
Italy
Corriere Dello Sport focussed on Napoli missing out on Pepe with the translated headline reading Napoli mocked, though I suspect that is more a google translation thing.
France
L’Equipe went with the standard headline of Pepe signing for Arsenal but did run a secondary article highlighting that Pepe was the most expensive player in Arsenal’s history.
Portugal
O Jogo went with the standard article reporting that Arsenal has broken their transfer record signing the Ivory Coast international.
China
Even the Chinese are reporting on the transfer, with China.org.cn going with the record-breaking angle.
India
The New India Express asked Who is Arsenal’s new club-record signing?
Kenya
The Star mainly reported comments from the 24-year-old about his transfer to Arsenal
USA
Sports Illustrated made sure their headline had a figure of $87m very visible
Egypt
KingFut called Pepe the most expensive African ever
Australia
The Sydney Morning Herald carried the huge figure of $A127m in their headline.
Canada
TSN called the Pepe transfer a club-record transfer.
And finally the Ivory Coast
Surprisingly Fratenite Matin ran a very basic article announcing the transfer and actually attributed the news to L’Equippe in France.
It’s a huge signing no doubt. If we get KT now from Celtic and a CB somehow then the buck passes to Emery. He should have no excuses. He has had enough support from the board for this transfer window. Why aim for 4th? We can easily finish 3rd(assuming Liverpool and MCFC will still dominate).
Vish, why not just appreciate the signings and look forward to the season, without putting pressure on the head coach.
Emery is under enough pressure since he only has this season (after his first season), as the option to extend his contract into the third year resides with Arsenal. If he doesn’t meet Kroenke and the Board’s expectations his contract won’t be extended.
I hope he can handle heavy pressure, because Arsenal really need to optimize the RW position to improve their away forms. His predecessor that also came from Lille, Gervinho, was not fit into Wenger’s football style at that time, but Emery’s is more direct and more pragmatic
I believe Aubameyang and Nelson would give Pepe a very strong competition on the right side, therefore I wouldn’t be surprised if Emery has to move Pepe to the left side in the future
Raul, Vinai, Kroenke and Emery did a great job by hiding their true intention and intentionally bidding for Zaha at such low price. They know what the team require and didn’t hesitate to spend a lot of money to fix the problems
Auba is fine on the left wing
I think at the moment Emery has decided on 4231 as his main formation, with ozil as the Cam. but I think in the big games away from home, he might change to 433. There is a strong rumour that he still wants Zaha and intends to play 442. Imagine using all that pace on the flanks Pepe Right and Zaha left, ably supported by bellerin/AMN at right back and Tierney/Kolasinac at left back. The centre backs would then be protected by a more conventional deep centre midfield one DM one DLP say Torreira and Ceballos or Xhakha and Guendozi. I think Sokratis/Holding/Chambers and Mavropanos could all cope with that and even dare I say it Mustafi and Monreal.
But as I see it now Tierney is our next target and to get that over the line and anymore signings Emery will need to offload. At the moment Asano and Bielik look nailed on to go. But surely Jenkinson Mustafi Koscielny Monreal Elneny and Mkhitaryan must be thinking where will I fit in? If Tierney is the only player we sign from here I cannot see those 5 getting in the second x1 let alone the first x1 when everyone is fit. Arsenal value those 6 at around £80m and with the sales of Bielik and Asano would easily be able to get Tierney, Zaha and possibly a centre back over the line by Thursday for our greatest window in many years if not ever.
As it stands the 8 players I mentioned would not get in my two starting x1s. The signings of Tierney Zaha and a centre back would push them further away.
Leno
Bellerin/Chambers/Holding/Kola
Torreira/Ceballos
Pepe/Ozil/Aubameyang
Lacazette
Martinez
AMN/Sokratis/Mavropanos/Thompson
Xhaka/Guendozi
Nelson/Willock/Iwobi
Nketiah
Add Tierney, Zaha and a better Centre back then Kolasinac Ozil and Chambers would be dropping down to the second x1.
Then with
Macey
Olayinka/Mavropas/Medley/Thompson
Burton/Willock
Martinelli/John-Jules/ESR
Balogun
we would have 3 very capable teams able to bring us silverware across the board. Though I expect a few of that last x1 to see some loan time
You could be right with 4-2-3-1 at home and 4-3-3 at away. What I like about Pepe is he was great on the right side, he is quick, tricky and pretty tall
Some of those players you mentioned must surely be benched or sold. If the new management can sell most of them, they do better job than Gazidis and co
He’s very good on the left too and in fact I’ve seen him play all along the front line and in midfield, he’s very versatile with two great feet.
He has a dead right foot ???
OT:I am French,so for the people who call Pepe Ivorian are wrong,he plays for their national team like Ryad Mahrez Plays for Algeria who just won the AFCON,THEY were both born and bred in France in Mantes la jolie all their lives and used to play their trade in France,went through the french education system,my point is Pepe is French!!
I hope people will lay off Kroenke now. Can’t argue with what Arsenal have done put their hands in their pockets. Fair play to the Board
Oddsbible and sportbible have more salt than atlantic and the indian ocean
@nikhilesh for real though,what is their problem with us?! so petty!
@nikhilesh for real though,what is their problem with us?! so petty!
I just read an article from the Express on an interview at talk sport from ex apparently spuds player now apparently pundit?Jamie O’hara,(WHO) YES MY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY, slamming us fans for apparently getting carried away with our new signings and thinking we are now a prem winning squad,what a prat I have not seen any evidence of fans on this site getting carried away,(yes we may now be in a better place to compete although still lacking defensive strength) just people with an honest opinion and hope for the coming season,whoever you are mr O’hara may i remind you that it has been an awfully long time since your lot won ANYTHING of note.
Nice one, Tommogun58! I think he’s probably more known because of who he was married to – Danielle Lloyd – rather than being a footballer ??
I didn’t know but he was in our academy for 5 years.. until we let him go, so that probably explains his bitterness!!
The spuds will be lording it now as they’ve won the audi cup ??
Tommogun, not only here, but on any Arsenal site, the Guardian etc.
Sue, for this poor Australia, who obviously needs to get out more, who is Danielle Lloyd? ??
I suppose I can “Google” her (LOL)?
She’s a model and a TV personality, Ozzie.. haha yes, google away!! ?
You might want to have a quick look on Twitter Tommo, loads of fans completely losing their sh*t about how our forward line is going to tear every Premier League team a new one and win the league. You’re correct we have improved and until the defence is sorted we cannot be getting carried away like some I’ve mentioned. Even if Tierney joins, I’m not totally convinced with the hype and don’t think he will be fit enough to play until late September and we are still without a Bellerin and a Holding.
Sorry Declan I don’t do twitter but yes i am sure some of us are getting carried away, i agree entirely with you on our defensive problems,and it is a big ask of Tiernet to come down here and make an impact the scottish prem is a hugely different kettle of fish to the premiership and he will have his work cut out to impress here.
Tommogun, that makes two of us who avoid Twitter.
YES
Tommygun
Lol like those tarded spuds haven’t been getting carried away with there best team in London history bollox
They get more fired up than trump on Mexicans
Solly gunner, I still believe Spurs haven’t reached the heights of the Double winning 1960/61 side yet.
Ozzie they are just plain ignorant and annoying some of my best mates are spuds and they pxss me off
They go a couple of seasons above us (just) and suddenly decades of us over achieving above them goes out the window
HELMETS
Solly, you should ask them if they have ever heard of Danny Blanchflower, Cliff Jones or Dave Mackay for starters?
lol
Here in Nigeria it is regarded as the transfer of the season, even the rivals fans are of the opinion that Arsenal pulled off a major coupe with the transfer.WELCOME TO ARSENAL..NICOLAS PEPE