Mikel Arteta feels Nicolas Pepe looks a ‘different’ player following his Africa Cup of Nations involvement and hopes that sees the winger kick on at Arsenal, via quotes by The Sun.
Pepe has endured a troubled campaign in the north London wilderness so far this term. The Ivory Coast star has only featured 12 times and started eight games in all competitions. Just nine of his appearances have also come during Premier League games for 501-minutes.
The forward is also yet to score and has only made one top-flight assist, which he provided in September. Instead, both of his two goals for the term and four assists have come during EFL Cup ties. Yet only an assist was against a rival Premier League side in Leeds United.
Pepe’s dearth of form in his Premier League outings has often forced Arteta to overlook the 26-year-old. He has only played 24-minutes over three outings since last starting a match in October. The Gunners’ club-record £72m man has also been an unused substitute 10 times.
Arteta could consider starting Pepe when Arsenal host Brentford on Saturday, however, as Gabriel Martinelli is suspended. Referee Michael Oliver issued the winger two yellow cards in the same moment for fouls on Daniel Podence and Chiquinho in the same piece of play.
Arteta feels Pepe is a ‘different’ player at Arsenal after AFCON
Pepe may also warrant starting in place of Martinelli against Brentford with what he has shown Arteta in training since returning to Arsenal from AFCON duty with the Ivory Coast.
The 28-cap international has impressed Arteta at London Colney since netting two goals and an assist in Cameroon. His efforts only helped Ivory Coast to the last 16, however.
Arteta said: “We have a really small squad and we need Nico at his best because hopefully he has understood that I want to play him. I don’t want to have a player like him sitting on the bench and not using him because this is the moment when I can give him a chance.
“But since he has come back from AFCON, I have seen a different Nico in his attitude, his smile, his energy and the way he is communicating. I think he felt important again, like a proper footballer that can win tournaments. I’m really pleased because he needed that.
“Now, he’s realised the importance of the end of the season for him. He had a brilliant end to last season and we want him to replicate that.”
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