Fabrizio Romano: Arsenal star makes stunning decision to ensure exit

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Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe has reportedly taken a wage cut to sign for OGC Nice, with the attacker set to sign for the Ligue 1 side on loan for the season.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Ivory Coast international will reduce his salary to sign for the French club, with Pepe on the verge of joining Nice for the season on a dry loan option, with the Arsenal record signing looking to get his form and his career back on track.

Despite some bright sparks, Pepe’s time at Arsenal has been incredibly underwhelming since signing for the Gunners in 2019 for a reported £72m, with Mikel Arteta largely viewing the former LOSC Lille superstar as a squad player as the 26-year-old spent the majority of last season on the bench.

Although Arsenal are back in Europe this season the Premier League clubs can now use five substitutes in matches, Pepe has still been deemed surplus to requirements by the north London side with Nice now set to secure the winger’s services for the year in a deal that could be a masterstroke.

The French Riviera side are one of the most ambitious in all of Ligue 1, with former Gooner Aaron Ramsey also joining Nice this summer, and the addition of Pepe could greatly increase Lucien Favre’s chances of a top-three finish come the end of the season.

Indeed, Pepe didn’t play much for Arsenal last season, but the winger was ofted praised by fans whenever given the chance to play for Arteta’s side, with the attacker’s goal against Wolves being the forward’s biggest contribution, and Nice could have a weapon on their hands for the new campaign.

Nice signing Pepe could be what Arsenal outcast needs to realise his true potential

It’s quite easy to forget just how good Pepe was before his move to Arsenal, with the Ivorian the most productive forward in France in the 2018/19 season as the Gunners won the race for the Lille superstar, and whilst things haven’t worked out in England, signing for Nice on loan could be perfect for the attacker.

After all, Nice have big plans this season to shake up Ligue 1, and signings like Pepe will do just that as the French club stand on the verge of landing a player who can take them to the next level in the months to come.