Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, Arsenal legend Ian Wright has criticised the club’s summer signing Nicolas Pepe over his performances this season.
What did he say?
The Ivory Coast international has struggled for consistent form in his debut campaign at the Emirates, scoring just five times across all competitions since arriving from French side Lille for a club-record fee of £72m.
And now, Wright has admitted the Gunners desperately need more out of their big-money signing, and that it was a damning statement that his three managers this season at club level have benched him.
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He said: “We definitely need more out of him, I’d like to see him play more and getting the creative players ramming the ball down his throat to get him taking on players. In Arsenal’s current state in respect of money we cannot afford to pay that kind of money for somebody and three managers now are not really sold.
“That can’t happen, we’re not in that luxurious position. Whatever happens we’ve got to get a tune out of Pepe and quick. Three managers have benched him. I’m not seeing enough movement from him, not seeing enough hunger from him to want to make something happen and he needs to start doing that because questions are starting to be asked.”
Absolutely fair
Whilst undoubtedly it will always take a bit of time for a player to settle into a new country and a different culture, the sum of money the Gunners have paid for Pepe means that it is a luxury they cannot afford. The north London side have struggled massively this season, currently finding themselves in tenth place after 25 games in the Premier League.
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His team’s difficulties have only made it more improbable for him to succeed, but Arsenal need him to be one of the players to step up and lift them out of their current slump. He is at the moment a £72m passenger, and their season risks continuing to spiral downwards unless Pepe can find his best form as quickly as possible.
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