The former Liverpool defender made the comments following Arsenal’s win against the Reds in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday evening.
Warnock, who now works as a pundit for BBC Sport, believes that the 25-year-old winger’s final ball “can be lazy and too relaxed”.
Warnock said on BBC Sport: “Nicolas Pepe has to prove that price tag. He hasn’t done enough yet. He’s had a season in the Premier League. Now he wants to show what he can do.
“He’s slowly growing into it and showing signs of creating something from nothing. At times his final ball can be lazy and too relaxed, but he’s still young – that will come in time.”
Stats
On Thursday evening, Pepe took two shots of which one was on target, played one key pass, had a pass accuracy of 88.9%, won one header, took 50 touches, attempted two dribbles, and put in three crosses, according to WhoScored.
The 25-year-old winger has played 64 minutes in the Premier League for Arsenal so far this season, while during the 2019-20 campaign, he scored five goals and provided six assists in the league and scored two goals and provided two assists in the Europa League for the Gunners, according to WhoScored.
Stepping up
Pepe did well in parts last season, and he does need to be more consistent and establish himself as an important player in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup at Arsenal.
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