Kevin Campbell has claimed that Nicolas Pepe could be Arsenal’s ‘trump card’ in their search for Champions League football, if he sorts out his attitude, as he told the Highbury Squad.
The former striker claimed that Pepe looked ‘lively’ during his cameo appearance for Arsenal at the weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Brentford 2-1 on home soil to further boost their chances of playing Champions League football next term.
It has been a tough old season for Arsenal’s 26-year-old winger because he hasn’t started a Premier League game since October.
Campbell thinks the Ivory Coast star still has enough mileage in his legs to produce the goods, but he shared what he needs to do.
“He looked lively,” said Campbell. “We want Pepe’s attitude to be right. When he is coming off the bench, we want his attitude to be right. We want him to go for it and look like he is hungry.
“And he did at the weekend. Sometimes, that’s all we can ask for. If we get that from Pepe until the end of the season, then I think he can come on or start and make a difference to this team.
“But if he looks disinterested and he’s not bothered, then that’s when he doesn’t come on. He could be the trump card if his attitude is right.”
A club-record transfer, life has been tough for Pepe ever since he was snapped up by Arsenal.
Whether it be under Unai Emery or now Arteta, he just hasn’t found the consistency that saw the Gunners snap him up from Lille in 2019.
Given how things are panning out for the player, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he heads for the north London exit door in the summer.
Unless there is a drastic sea change during these final few months of the season and he plays a huge part in the club securing a top-four finish this term.
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