Tim Sherwood has claimed that Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal won’t purchase players like Nicolas Pepe anymore ahead of the summer transfer window re-opening.
The 27-year-old, who is still an Arsenal player, is on-loan at French side OGC Nice after struggling for several years in the Premier League after his club-record £72 million transfer in 2019 (Sky Sports).
It remains to be seen what his future holds, but for Sherwood, players like Nicolas Pepe, and that previous ‘scattergun approach’, simply won’t happen anymore, as he told Sky Sports News (20/05/23).
Whilst Arsenal fans will still be licking their wounds after losing out on the Premier League title to Manchester City, and they only have themselves to blame for their end-of-season collapse.
They are still back in the Champions League next season and ready to secure the signature of those elite players that can help them become champions of England again.
How far those in the Emirates boardroom push the boat out remains to be seen, but for Sherwood, he is pretty clear that the man in the dugout will be properly backed.
“I think Mikel will be trusted, they will give him the money,” said Sherwood. “He has recruited well. Zinchenko was a great signing and Jesus. Jorginho, the experience.
“They have tasted it and they know what it’s like to be leading. They just now need to go that step further. I think you need to buy experience, in order to do that.
“Gone are the days of a scattergun approach from Arsenal. That won’t happen anymore. The Pepe’s of this world. They won’t sign players like that.”
NICOLAS PEPE’S FUTURE AT ARSENAL
It wouldn’t be a surprise if the Ivory Coast star is moved on during the summer transfer window because Bukayo Saka has made that right-sided flank his own.
In the Premier League, Pepe netted 16 goals from 80 matches. Saka has 13 alone this season, which just goes to show the levels.
That’s probably why he was named a transfer flop alongside Manchester United’s Harry Maguire, as he has six goals from 19 Ligue 1 matches this term.
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