Gabby Agbonlahor has slammed Nicolas Pepe amid rumours that he could leave Arsenal by claiming that ‘Mikel Arteta needs better’ and the player’s attitude is ‘all wrong’.
The former Aston Villa striker added that Pepe has ‘no consistency’ to his game and he can go from being a ‘9/10 one week to 1/10 another week’, as he told talkSPORT.
That’s why the 27-year-old’s time at the London club is coming to an end – Pepe has taken a wage cut as he prepares for a loan move to French side, OGC Nice.
With the fact that he was Arsenal’s all-time record transfer, then that comes with its pressure, but most importantly, its expectations.
Never mind meeting those expectations, the Ivory Coast star hasn’t even touched the surfaces and he has struggled to progress under Arteta.
Agbonlahor pointed towards Pepe’s attitude and lack of consistency as a reason behind his struggles in the Premier League ahead of his move to Nice.
“It’s his attitude, though, it’s all wrong,” said Agbonlahor. “No consistency, that’s what it is. He will be 9/10 one week and then 1/10 the next week. Arteta needs better.”
BUKAYO SAKA AND GABRIEL MARTINELLI EXAMPLES TO PEPE
Pepe was a player purchased during Unai Emery’s stewardship, despite that, Arteta still stuck by the player during his struggles and tried to lift him up.
A player that naturally likes to play on the right wing, Arteta even used the player out on the left flank in order to improve his weakness of not being able to play on his right foot.
Whatever Arteta and his coaching staff tried, it didn’t work, as Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka thrive in Arsenal colours and were examples of players improving at a rapid rate at the Emirates.
They were seen as players below Pepe’s level when he first arrived, but now, they are well and truly ahead of the soon-to-be departing winger.
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