Arsenal made Nicolas Pepe their club record signing last summer, and while he didn’t get off to the best of starts, has he shown enough to deter us from signing a replacement?
The club will no doubt be spending money this summer, should there be a transfer window amidst the craziness of the current world, investing into the new philosophy that Arteta is bringing to the club, but where to spend the money will be the new problem.
We are currently being linked with moves for potential rivals to the winger, with Feyenoord’s Orkun Kokcu and Gent’s Jonathan David.
The latter is only 20, but has notched up 23 goals and 10 assists this season already, and is picking up a number of potential suitors. The American is more of a number 10, but with the ability to play wider, and could well be a shrewd signing.
Kokcu is more strongly linked with a move to our club, and could potentially be our new free-kick taker. The Turkish international is believed to be high on our radar, with an early move touted previously with us in fear that his stock would rise at the European Championships. Of course that competition may well be put back 12 months, possibly allowing a more lax approach to his signature.
The jury remains to be out on whether Pepe is the player we thought we was shipping out the big money on, and Eddie Nketieh and Gabriel Martinelli are currently impressing as they vie for match minutes. The Portuguese international has been in and out of the first team under all three managers this term, but more will be expected from him next season no doubt.
Do we need to add another winger to the team? Or would Kokcu be the better acquisition to play slightly deeper?
Patrick
Play him on the left hand side, with Saka and Tierney behind him, plus Kolasinac on the bench as a sub for any of the three and we will have a left side that will run any other team ragged.
Only my opinion of corse, MA knows best.
What Portugese international?
Arsenal is becoming a true garbage can, so use Pepe as a right wing back, with Mustafi as left wing back, and the two highly ranked newcomers Lovren and Vertonghen as center backs. Wow! And with Lallana and Xhaka as midfielders. What more corps can we bring in? Let’s go for Willian and Fred. Why shall Chelsea and Man United have all the funny guys? And on top… a couple genuine no goal scorers, like Benteke and Batshuayi. If we need to fresh up our own goal scoring, so why not Smalling and Jones? We should help the poor sodd Ole Gunnar. He’s norwegian.
So the clubs that currently have the players you name are also garbage cans then?
I get your post now, really subtle way of putting down other clubs… BRILLIANT!!!!
Hi Ken. No, I don’t call Chelsea, Man United etc “garbage cans”. A garbage can is a place where you can put trash and leftovers you don’t have use for anymore. I’m sure you don’t think Asn’l should be place for guys like Lovren and Lallana. If you do, then you’re a runaway from White Hart Lane.
He is too much predictable, and he does not challenge defenders enough
I think Pepe is too shy for PL. All players are not fit for the toughest league in Europe. If he more often were playing as he did the 2nd half against Newcastle (best on the pitch) we would all be happy.
My take on Pepe is that he has undoubted talent but has been hugely underhwhelming so far. He needs to step up from the next game- whenever or whichever YEAR that may be played- or be indanger of being a huge failure and moved on. Arteta will not carry long term passengers for seson after season,.l No more Walcotts, for MA.
We do need to invest in another attacking midfielder, I feel we are sorted for wide players and forwards with Pepe, Martinelli, Saka, Nketiah, Nelson with Balogun and John-Jules also to come in.
We need midfielders both a attacking and Central. Our only #10 coming through is ESR, Willock is more box-to-box.
Korku or David would both represent shrewd signings
By the look of it, Kokcu seems to be very impressive. He is both a goal creator and shoots from the midfield. As far as Pepe is concerned, I feel he needs another season to give his best for the Club.