At Arsenal, the Ivorian Nicolas Pépé is still struggling
Ivorian Nicolas Pépé, wearing Arsenal jersey, September 23, 2020. Tim Keeton / Pool via AP Photo
Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow
6 min
The most expensive recruit in Arsenal history, Nicolas Pépé is unable to find his place in the Gunners' workforce, more than a year after his arrival.
The Ivorian striker does not fully meet the expectations of the coach, Mikel Arteta, who did without his services Sunday, November 1 during the victory on Manchester United (1-0).
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Arsenal are smiling this November 1.
After almost six years of waiting, the Gunners have won away in the Premier League against a Top 6 side in the league.
The last prestigious victory dates back to January 18, 2015, at Manchester City (2-0, goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud).
30 matches later, the London club once again beat an English tenor away on Sunday in Manchester again, but against United this time.
On the 7th day of the 2020-2021 season, at Old Trafford, Arsenal won against the Red Devils thanks to a goal scored from the penalty spot by Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (1-0).
The Gunners had not pocketed the three points in this stadium for ... 14 years, and a 1-0 victory acquired in September 2006 thanks to the Togolese Emmanuel Adebayor!
This is to say if it goes back.
Just me, my boy and the guys enjoying the Partey tonight🤣😂🕺🏽 pic.twitter.com/slMSKsxICi
Aubameyang PE (@ Aubameyang7) November 1, 2020
But this success of the day, Nicolas Pépé lived it as a spectator, from the sidelines.
Mikel Arteta did not establish it in the “Theater of Dreams”.
Worse, he didn't even bring it into play.
Replaced by Willian, and even seriously competed with by Nketiah
Since the start of the season, the Ivorian has not been a priority option for the Spanish coach.
During the first six days of the Premier League, Nicolas Pépé has only been established once.
On the other hand, against Manchester United, this is the first time that he has not even come into play. Mikel Arteta has opted for a trident composed of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Willian.
In the last quarter of an hour, the Frenchman gave way to striker Eddie Nketiah, 21, while the Brazilian and Gabonese were replaced by defenders, in order to preserve the score.
Earlier in the week, Thursday, Nicolas Pépé still played in the Europa League against the Irish from Dundalk (3-0).
He even scored on this occasion.
But undeniably, more than a year after his
transfer from Lille for 80 million euros
(a record sum in Arsenal history), the striker is failing to establish himself as a major element of the London group. .
Willian, who arrived free in mid-August after seven seasons at Chelsea, immediately donned the title suit in the league, Arsenal's most important competition this season so far.
And even the young Nketiah rivals Grandpa in terms of playing time now.
After a lackluster first season (8 goals and 10 assists in 42 appearances, in all competitions), the
winner of the Marc-Vivien Foé 2019 Prize
does not appear to be more lively for the moment.
Nicolas Pépé congratulated by his Arsenal teammates after scoring against Dundalk in the Europa League on October 29, 2020. Matt Dunham / AP Photo
Arteta expects more consistency, some criticism is fired
After the match against Dundalk, Mikel Arteta spoke about the situation of the Ivorian international.
"
He was not the first choice in every game, but he played several times
", he qualified.
But the Spanish technician was also clear: “
Some have been better than others.
"With Nicolas Pépé, he does not detect any"
bad attitude
", on the contrary.
However, its performance is not as expected.
On the
Gunners website
, Mikel Arteta recalled that the n ° 19 “
needed time
”, after the investment made to bring him in the summer of 2019. “
He is an unpredictable player, who has something Special.
It's about being consistent now,
”he added, echoing his statements the day before, when he specifically cited finishing and placement in the penalty area as points to improve to gain efficiency.
Alan Smith, former Arsenal striker (80s-90s), now a consultant, was very hard on the Elephant.
At the site
101 Great Goals
, he confided that Nicolas Pépé “
disappointed
” and that he is “
in a way, a problem, because it cost a lot of money
”.
“
I was hoping that for his second season he would break free.
Clearly, Arsenal have spent too much on him.
Willian, although he is a very different player, is much more reliable,
”he said.
But Alan Smith saw in the Ivorian "
little glimpses showing that he can be exciting, that he can transform a match
".
"
He needs to bring more consistency to his game, and I hope he will do it with the Arsenal shirt
," he added.
A last wish undoubtedly shared by the person concerned.
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