According to an interview with Goal, Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette believes Nicolas Pepe is starting to prove his price-tag for the Gunners.
As per BBC Sport, the north London outfit parted with a club-record fee of £72m to bring the Ivorian to the Emirates.
Pepe has endured a fairly mixed start since his marquee move, the 24-year-old has contributed six goals and seven assists in 28 appearances across all competitions this season.
The former Lille star has come into his own in recent weeks, the ace bagged a goal and two assists in yesterday’s 4-0 win over Newcastle.
Here’s what Lacazette had to say on his skilful teammate:
“I used to say we need to be patient with him,”
“He is still young, he came from another league and it is always different.”
“The Premier League is the hardest league in the world I think, so you have to be nice with new players like him.”
“He is someone who needs confidence and when you give him confidence he is better.”
“He just needs time to understand how the league is and now we can see a really good Nicolas Pepe.”
With Pepe turning over a new leaf recently, Mikel Arteta’s side look as though their capable of mounting a serious challenge for a Champions League spot after a lacklustre first-half of the season.
Pepe’s at his best simply when he has the ball at his feet, this is when the Ivorian dazzles defenders with his lovely skill and he’s now beginning to showcase the quality of his end product.
I’ve been very critical of him, but have to say he was top notch yesterday! If he keeps that kind of performance up, I’ll be delighted!!
Pepe has talent oozing from everywhere but he isn’t using it correctly at the moment. Given time the obvious talent will come out. And to the blind who said Zaha is/was better, you are wrong. This lad actually influences games and he hasn’t got started yet.
Tell that to the people who already branded him a flop in his first season and had expectations as though he’s been playing in the league for years
He’ll learn quickly, now that he is getting more game time. Sometimes hangs on to the ball just a few seconds too long and gets robbed of it because there are always 2 or 3 defenders on him. Thing is, if he is marked by 2 or 3 defenders, the other Arsenal players must be able to find openings.
Good post broth
Pepe was allways good and it was only the fact that he was low on confidence that was holding him back. There is a massive difference between the French League and the EPL and he definitely requires time. Once he comes into the true grooves that he really is, than sky is the limit. To Greece next. Up the Gunners!