James Benge has claimed that Mikel Arteta would pick ‘six’ academy players ahead of Nicolas Pepe for Arsenal’s first team.
No move to Saudi Arabia for Pepe
The CBS journalist was trying to put forward how Nicolas Pepe has no future at Arsenal, despite once being the club’s record transfer, prior to Declan Rice’s arrival this summer, as he told Inside Arsenal.
Prior to the 2023 summer transfer window in England slamming shut on Friday, Pepe didn’t manage to get a move, but there was talk of a move to Saudi Arabia.
Now, given that the window in the Middle East is still open, then there is still a chance for the 28-year-old’s misery at Arsenal and under Mikel Arteta to come to an end.
But it seems as though Pepe, who was on-loan at French side Nice last season, is even struggling to get a move to the ever-growing Saudi Pro League.
According to Benge, the representatives of the player, back in July, asked for wages that were ‘way out of line’ for what the Saudi club wanted to give him, hence why he hasn’t moved yet.
“I can see a world where Arteta plays Cedric, I can list you about six players in the academy that Arteta would pick before Pepe,” said Benge.
“From what I heard, the salary he asked for in July, or his representatives asked for, was way out of line with anything he could get from a Saudi Arabian club. It would have been a significant pay rise from what he was on at Arsenal.
“They (Saudi) would counter that his career has gone in a direction, since joining Arsenal, that means he is maybe not the player that Arsenal paid £72 million and gave the best part of £200k-a-week to.”
Pepe’s career fades away
The Ivory Coast star can’t argue that he hasn’t had his chances because Arteta, during the early stages of his reign, did everything to help the player.
From encouraging him and putting an arm around his shoulder to playing him on the left flank in order to work on his weaker right side.
Even going on-loan back to France last season didn’t work, as his career fades away to a point where he is currently struggling to get a move.
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