Nicolas Pepe is very much a forgotten man at Arsenal.
The Ivory Coast international has joined up with his Arsenal teammates in Dubai following an Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
However, his prospects as a Gunner don’t seem a lot brighter.
Mikel Arteta hasn’t started Pepe in a Premier League outing since way back in October and overall, the 26-year-old has made the first XI only five times in that competition all season long.
As a winger, Arsenal’s £72 million addition from 2019 looks like a bonafide flop at the Emirates Stadium – but could Arteta reinvent him in a more central role?
Experiment
Everyone knows that Arsenal failed to sign a striker in January and having lost Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and loaned out Folarin Balogun, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are their only recognsied number nines.
And that’s a major problem because between them, Nketiah and Lacazette have managed three Premier League goals this season – all from the Frenchman.
The Spanish manager desperately needs another striking option and with Pepe not being utilised anywhere else, and boasting the sort of speed and trickery that could make him a nightmare for central defenders, why not experiment?
Marcelo Bielsa, the Leeds United manager, played him up front during a stint with Lille a few years ago to mixed results, it has to be said.
However, Pepe isn’t alien to a central position and it’s worth experimenting.
Arsenal just aren’t going to reach Champions League qualification with Lacazette and Nketiah up top – more is needed and maybe, just maybe, unleashing the Ivory Coast international in a different position could benefit the North Londoners.
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