Lee Dixon has taken to Twitter to send a brutal message to struggling Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe.
The Ivory Coast international recently expressed his concerns over a lack of playing time at the Emirates Stadium, but Dixon seemingly has no sympathy.
In response to a tweet from Sky Sports documenting Pepe’s unhappiness, the former Gunners full-back wrote: ‘Play better then’.
In our view, that’s extremely harsh from Dixon.
When the £72 million attacker has been given chances by Mikel Arteta this season, he’s delivered.
Despite making just one Premier League start, Pepe has started three Europa League games, where he’s netted two goals and also grabbed two assists.
If the likes of Willian – who has made seven Premier League starts – were bossing things, then Dixon’s message would be fair.
However, the Brazilian hasn’t scored yet this season, and only has two assists to his name in England’s top-flight this term.
Pepe has earned the chance to start over Willian in the Premier League with his displays in Europe, where he has simply done what Dixon is instructing him to do.
It is now down to Arteta to be bold and hand some Premier League starts to the former Lille man, who earns £100,000-a-week according to Spotrac.
Pepe must be seriously frustrated with his lack of starts if he felt the need to tell the media about it, and comments like Dixon’s won’t be helpful to anyone.
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