Martin Keown claims Arsenal 25-year-old was ‘lucky’ to be on the pitch against Saints

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Martin Keown told BT Sport during their live coverage of Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton that Nicolas Pepe was ‘lucky’ to stay on the pitch.

Just before the hour mark, Mikel Arteta substituted Gabriel Martinelli and Keown couldn’t understand why the Arsenal teenager was subbed yet Pepe stayed on the pitch.

It was yet another game to forget for Pepe, who has struggled to showcase why Arsenal paid such big bucks for his services in 2019.

Keown made it clear that there is ‘no consistency’ to the 25-year-old’s game, as he shared his reaction to the Arsenal winger staying on the pitch yesterday.

“Well, I think the substitution is a signal to the players,” said Keown. “I am not quite sure why Martinelli went off.

“Pepe is lucky to still be on there – That says it all really [Pepe’s free-kick in the second half]. There is no consistency to his play. He’s just got to get this on target and it’s way over.”

It just goes to show that spending big money on a player isn’t always the answer to a club’s problems.

Bukayo Saka has come through Arsenal’s system and he is looking a far more accomplished player than Pepe.

Someone like Reiss Nelson is struggling to get minutes under Arteta yet his progression is being halted because of Pepe when there isn’t much difference between the two.