‘One to watch’ – Arsenal insider hints that Nicolas Pepe’s future is in doubt

Chris Wheatley has claimed that Arsenal do not have any current plans to extend Nicolas Pepe‘s stay in north London.

The Ivory Coast international arrived from Lille in a club record transfer in 2019 but has struggled to find a consistent level of form for his new club.

Pepe has been in-and-out of the first-team with an uncertainty of what you will get from the winger, and he now appears to have fallen behind the trio of Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka in the pecking order for the three places in behind the striker.

The 26 year-old’s ability isn’t in question, but his potential to put a string of performances together closer to his ceiling is proving to be an issue, while his younger counterparts all appear to be thriving on a regular basis.

While Pepe still has just under three years remaining on hiss current deal, there is no need for alarm bells when hearing that we are not currently eyeing a new contract, and I’m sure I’m not alone in believing that he still has the potential to be a future world star, but the reality remains that he now looks unlikely to find his mojo in our side.

Chris Wheatley hints that there could well be a change in circumstance for Pepe, adding that the club currently has no intention to sit down with him and discuss a new deal.

“I haven’t heard anything on Pepe being offered a new contract, Wheatley stated in a recent Q&A(via Football.London). “He’s in Mikel Arteta’s plans for now but it’s one to watch over the coming months.”

Tags Chris Wheatley Nicolas Pepe

8 Comments

  1. I believe Pepe can strung together good performances. He just needs consistent game time, say 10 – 15 matches in row. He doesn’t usually get such under Arteta

    1. Is also a much more goal threat with better end product than Saka and Smith Rowe. I therefore believe he should be kept cos he’s a match winner. He just needs a functioning system. Recently, he’s been doing a lot defensively which shows he’s ready to learn, while still getting the required end product. He’s still got his flaws but overall, he’s a player we should absolutely keep

  2. He’s too predictable. This is the second season in Arsenal, but we can’t wait longer than that. Just like Xhaka, hes been her forever but can’t improve

  3. Pepe is our most productive forward, say what you like about him but he creares and scores together more than any other Arsenal player. If he is used correctly he is a real weapon, he needs to be trusted.

    1. @Reggie I totally agree with you. @ Koma I am dumbfounded to hear you make such a comment about a player who single-handedly carried us over the line towards the end of last season. Pepe should stay and MA must learn how to utilize him.

  4. No player will play at his best when even if he scores goals and give assists, he’s still not sure of playing the next match. Like I said above, give him 10 – 15 consistent matches and see his stats. He’s even more of a goal threat than Lacazette. Arteta needs to utilize him correctly because it’s quite clear that the coach doesn’t really fancy him no matter how well he performs

  5. Pepe, IMO, has ability but has he enough to justify a regular place in this fast improving team? I think he does not have enough regular productivity and much of this lack is caused by not releasing the ball early enough and by a lack of fight, esp when compared to ESR, SAKA and some others.

    He is worth keeping and using at times, BUT for my mind he needs to regularly and consistently EARN a place and IMO he does not do this nearly enough and certainly not consistently enough.

    Ability without ENOUGH regular desire too is never enough!

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