Ivory Coast manager Patrice Beaumelle has said that it pains him to see Nicolas Pepe not getting playing time at Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, as quoted in The Mirror.
Beaumelle has said that it is painful for Arsenal winger Pepe not to start games regularly.
The 26-year-old winger has made five starts and 10 substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Gunners so far this season.
Pepe has scored one goal and given one assist in those games.
The Arsenal no. 19 scored two goals and provided four assists in three Carabao Cup appearances this campaign.
Patrice Beaumelle on Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe
Beaumelle said: “When I watch Nico on the bench it is painful for him as he loves to play and it is painful for me because I need my players on the pitch for club games.
“I would like him to play more as I am sure he can bring a lot of solutions. When you see what he brings to Ivory Coast, I would like to see him bring so much fun and joy and happiness and goals with the red jersey.”
Gunners exit inevitable?
In our opinion, it would be best for Pepe if he leaves Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
It is unlikely that the winger will get back into the Gunners’ starting lineup.
The likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli are doing well at the moment, and we do not think that Pepe will be able to get ahead of them in the pecking order.
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Now, of course, Arsenal are not going to get anywhere near the £72 million transfer fee they paid for the Ivory Coast international.
The Gunners will be aware of that.
Maybe Arsenal could demand a lower fee, say around £30 million, for Pepe or just let him go on loan to another club for next season.
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