Nigel de Jong told the Football Show on Sky Sports (10/09/21 at 10:50 am) that players like Nicolas Pepe could be ‘heading for the exit door’ if they don’t perform for Arsenal next season.
The former Dutch international thinks it’s a ‘make or break’ season for the Arsenal winger, who has had an indifferent time since his big-money transfer in 2019.
Slowly but surely, Pepe’s form has been picking up in North London, including a strong end to the last campaign.
But De Jong warned that Pepe now needs to put out performances over the course of a season, rather than over a few weeks or months.
“It’s very important that he kicks on,” said De Jong. “Not only for him but for all the players.
“He came here for big money, Nicolas Pepe. To be really honest, for the last two years he never really showed himself and the quality player he can be.
“Yes, he had some actions, left and right and showed glimpses of his quality. But overall in the season, he needs to do better. For the amount of money he has come in for, he needs to better as a player.
“This is a make or break for a lot of players. After this year, it might be a different situation and you might be heading for the exit door.”
These first ten Premier League games will dictate what happens to Arsenal in the long run.
If Mikel Arteta gets off to a poor start then he could be heading for the exit door himself and it could result in the Gunners missing out on European football again.
Whilst the London club have brought in some new faces, including their standout capture of the summer Ben White, fans have probably expected more action in the transfer market.
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