Speaking on the Seaman Says Podcast, David Seaman has been discussing Nicolas Pepe and his recent struggles at Arsenal.
The Ivorian has been out of the Arsenal team for quite some time now, and inevitably, there are questions as to why the club’s record signing is so out of favour at the Emirates.
Seaman has pondered whether or not it’s because of his performances in training. However, the goalkeeper is a regular visitor to London Colney as a goalkeeper coach, and he says that he’s never seen anything that indicates Pepe isn’t giving it his all in training.
What’s been said?
Seaman spoke about why Pepe isn’t playing much football as of late.
“I think a lot of it depends on the player’s attitude as well, I know he was big friends with Aubameyang, but the fact that he’s not getting started tells you a lot. Maybe he’s not putting it in in training, but I’ve not seen that,” Seaman said.
“It is a tough one, but Arteta has made the team better, he seems to know what his best team is and there have been injuries to key players. I still think that Arteta is the right man because I see what he does in training, I see his methods, his intensity, the quality he’s got and his demands as well. The team is getting better, but you always get individuals who don’t improve, and that’s where Pepe comes into it.”
Just not good enough
It sounds as though Pepe’s lack of gametime isn’t about attitude or application, quite simply, the Ivorian lacks the talent to get into the team ahead of Bukayo Saka.
With all due respect to Pepe, he hasn’t exactly lit the Premier League up when he has played, and sadly, it didn’t take much for Saka to usurp him in the Arsenal pecking order.
According to Seaman, Pepe is giving it his all in training, but sometimes, even your best efforts aren’t enough at a club like Arsenal.
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