Winger reveals his plan to get Arsenal career back on track
Nicolas Pepe has confirmed his return to Arsenal after spending the previous season on loan at Nice. The Ivory Coast international, who joined the Gunners in a club-record £72 million deal from Lille in 2019, struggled to live up to his price tag and faced limited playing time under manager Mikel Arteta.
However, the winger has dismissed claims of a poor relationship with Arteta and expressed his willingness to fight for his place in the squad.
Nicolas Pepe's market value has fallen by an average of €14.25m per season since signing for Arsenal. A total decrease of 76% in four years. pic.twitter.com/aR0B2pAj72
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) July 1, 2023
Speaking to YouTube channel Colinterview, the former Lille star stated, “I will return to Arsenal. I was loaned without an option to buy so I have to go back to Arsenal… When I get back, I’ll speak with the coach and everyone and see what everyone’s ideas are and then we’ll make a decision.”
He also emphasized that the Gunners boss had shown faith in him and believed in his potential. Pepe acknowledged the improvements he experienced under Arteta’s guidance and praised the manager for his tactical insights and game intelligence.
Contrary to rumors, the Ivory Coast international clarified that Arteta did not label him as a player who didn’t fit into the team’s philosophy. He explained, “He knew my style of play wasn’t waiting in possession, it was cutting inside.”
Nicolas Pepe back in London. #AFC pic.twitter.com/7o8HqsmWsF
— ⭐️ (@TimberTime_) June 27, 2023
He continued, “These are parts of my game that he tried to improve. He always wanted to help me with all of that.” While Pepe initially struggled with being a substitute and faced frustration when Willian was preferred on the wing, he credited Arteta for giving him opportunities to prove himself and regain confidence.
Pepe’s return to Arsenal for pre-season training indicates that he is prepared to fight for his future at the club. Although speculation regarding his future persists, it seems that the 28-year-old is determined to make a fresh start and showcase his abilities under Arteta’s guidance.
Somehow, Nicolas Pepe is still wearing the Arsenal shirt. Will he get a chance to prove himself in the preseason tour to Germany? Nurnberg awaits. pic.twitter.com/44yccH06G9
— ARDENT GOONER (@TheArsenalMind) June 26, 2023
As discussions unfold between the player, coach, and the club, Arsenal fans will be eager to see how Pepe’s return unfolds and whether he can fulfill his potential in the upcoming season. Or will he be given the chance to do exactly that?
I think the ship has sailed and we should not wait to see the “true potential” of the winger. He has already been given a lot of chances and it would be good to cash in on him this summer.
What do you think?
There is definitely a good player in him.
Rather than pay him off let’s give him another go.
Am in agreement with the post above, somewhere there is a player in this lad, but he won’t be trusted am proposing we sell to Al Nassr FC for £25 mill
Though he came in for a lot of criticism I think his first couple of seasons goals/assists tally wasn’t much different to the much more highly rated Zaha’s over the same period. Definitely a casualty of the record price tag & a team rebuild who could still come good if Arteta sees a place for him.
I agree that “the ship has sailed and he has already been given a lot of chances” and that he needs to be sold.
Problem is, who would be daft enough to pay us more than a very tiny fee,if anything at all!
I reckon we will have to pay to get him gone
What a disastrous mistake made by SANLEHI, for “reasons” of his own.
And ALL Gooners in the know are very clear WHAT those reasons were for. Clue; it had nothing to do with ability !
You are very negative. We won’t pay him to go. I am sure we can easily get 10m for him. Maybe 15. Because he is still relatively young.
Johnze, You are plainly new onJA if you honestly and laughably wrongly think I, of all people am “negative”!
Being extremely positive and realistic as I AM, I see no sensible way that such a way sub par player( realism not negativity BTW!) will be kept at our club , nor should he.
That is a statement of positiive intent in my positive belief that we will again this coming season, seriously challenge at the very top of the Prem.
Only negative fans see any role for such a way sub par player and think any club will be daft enough to bid much, if at all for him.
No one has so far, I can’t help noticing. HARDLY SURPRISING EITHER.
I don’t think we should be going back to Pepe. We’ve moved on, and sadly the transfer just hasn’t worked out for him. He has got some real talents fit finishing and beating a defender, but he never got to grips with the speed of our game, and always seemed to slow things down and lost the ball cheaply too often.
I can’t fault his attitude, though, seems like a humble guy – whether he stays or goes, I wish him well.
Davi
Am in agreement with you, Pepe is highly technical the problem I see he was just too predictable.
Teams stop double team him, the opposing players would just hold their ground and wait on him to cut in knowing he will never go to the bylines.
Have watched Tossard a less technical player, but the elements of suprise is always there, Martinelli could even learn a thing from him too as well, laying off the ball before getting bogged down.
Pepe is one player I think under the right tutelage, one that is patient and willing to put an arm around his shoulders and drills him he could come alive, but time wait on no man.
I agree, I think Pepe needs to go somewhere the manager really believes in him. Also think he’s best in a counter attacking team where he can play more on instinct, as I think he struggles when he has to think.
It’s possible as well he felt like he always has to do something special when he got the ball, when usually a quick pass would have been better. Possibly a result of the expectation due to the transfer fee
If we are unable to offload Pepe,and I suspect that will be the case, he should be tried on the left flank or indeed through the middle as he has not been a success as an inverted right winger.
Interesting!
Nicolas Pepe and Jadon Sancho start at Arsenal and Man United respectively for their 1st 2 seasons:
Games Goals Assists
Nicolas 89 24 15
Pepe
Jadon 79 12 6
Sancho
And Jadon Sancho doesn’t get half of the criticism that Pepe receives.
People very quickly forget what a brilliant first season Pepe had and the important goals he scored. The question is What went wrong?
“Brilliant”? Don’t you think that emotive word is way over hyped, as I and most others do?
. He has amply proven he is NOT a team player, which is why MA loaned him out, hoping some club would bid for him.
But NONE has and I am not at all surprised either
Kenny some here don’t let facts get in the way of their emotions 🤣
The cause for Pepe’s fall was a break down in the relationship between him amd MA, not his ability. Confidence has gone now. I know MA won’t do it but if he actually coached Pepe there’s a good player there.
Welcome back Nicolas Pepe! There’s still unfinished business at the Emirates.
Looking forward to the second coming of the explosive winger and assist king. Saka needs help, too.
Give the lad another chance to prove himself
Pepe should be a back up for saka
One thought I have is that the emirates has a very different atmosphere to the last time he played for the team. He came under fire from an already hostile fan base and that would have an effect on anyone, especially a confidence player such as Pepe. However he has had enough chances and wasn’t bought to be developed so much so I can’t see he adds anything. Better have him off the wage bill
DITTO!! Another chance. I feel he is HUNGRY to prove the doubters wrong.
Wheter you like it or not If the club disides to keep Pepe it will be so any negativity from the fans wouldn’t matter pepe has portention to outscore Saka because personnaly i know he is more clinical if he plays consistently.
I honestly don’t know why Pepe recieves so much negativity from some of our fans. I’ll advise these guys criticizing Pepe to try and keep their emotions and dislike aside for a moment and just consider Pepe’s stats and compare them with the likes of Zaha, Sancho, Jesus, Foden etc. I think Pepe should stay – if only MA would trust him and not destroy his confidence any more than the poor guy has endured.
The negative views would have come about because he wasn’t a £72m player. It was daylight robbery.
If Pepe was indeed daylight robbery, what would you say about plain Rice for 105M and Chelski’s flop Havertz for 65M? Let me guess: Hammers and Chelski laughing all the way to the bank, at our expense.
RFrancis
My point was that Pepe didn’t play like a £72m player for us and you could very well be right that Rice and Havertz won’t be worth the transfer fees paid either. Until they have been integrated and played a few games we won’t know whether WHU and Chelsea are going to be laughing all the way to the bank
Its depressing how out of touch with all reality so many fans on this thread are about Pepe.
Some still hanker after him proving all we realists inluding oiur manager, wrong. They are as ever thinking with their hearts and not their heads, poor souls.
He is not good enough for us and has amply proved that.
If he WERE ANY GOOD, then why has no other club shown any serious interest in him!! Cos clubs use their heads, an not their hearts! THATS WHY!
No serious football person within the game goes on personal emotion but, only on hard cold analysis of how useful, OR NOT, ANY PLAYER IS!
His loan having ended, he is coming back because no other club wants him and we are stuck with him.
REALITY!