Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was full of praise from the sidelines for Nicolas Pepe’s performance against Southampton, Football London report.
Pepe was handed a chance to start for Arsenal in their 3-1 victory at St. Mary’s on Tuesday, and the Ivorian put in one of his best displays in a Gunners shirt.
Pepe scored Arsenal’s first goal of the night and looked a constant threat down the left-hand side.
Arteta was apparently very satisfied by what he saw, and was constantly shouting ‘Allez Nico’ at the winger.
Arteta has recently put the pressure on Pepe to produce between now and the end of the season, and asked for the club’s record signing to show more consistency.
But Football London report that Arteta’s body language towards the flying winger was very encouraging on Tuesday and he seemed to be ‘reinvigorated’ by his display.
Interestingly Pepe was deployed down the left by Arsenal at Southampton, and it may be that he features in that position more regularly now.
With Pierre Emerick Aubameyang’s availability at the weekend still uncertain, Pepe could be in with a strong chance of starting against Manchester United.
And if the 25-year-old could produce a display of a similar quality, he may well have a key role to play for Arsenal between now and the end of the season.
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