It’s been 18 months since Arsenal broke their club record transfer fee to sign Nicolas Pepe.
But the Ivory Coast winger is just getting no closer to justifying the money.
The Gunner shelled out £72 million to bring Pepe in from Lille while Unai Emery was in charge during the summer of 2019.
Since then, the 25-year-old has managed only seven goals and six assists in 41 Premier League games.
It isn’t a dreadful return, but it sort of is when you’re a £72 million attacker and therefore more is needed.
Pepe also struggled in midweek as Arsenal were dumped out of the League Cup, losing 4-1 to Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.
And Simon Jordan, speaking on talkSPORT [broadcast 23/12] has suggested that more and more, the player – who also earns £100,000 per week in North London – is looking like a waste of money.
He said: “They are cheating, look at Pepe. We all have our difficulties and challenges in life and football brings about its different challenges, but if that’s a £72million footballer, then with due respect, I am a monkey’s uncle because that is not worth the money. The way he strolled around in the second half and he showed no interest in the game.”
It’s difficult to be overly harsh on Pepe because if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a player proven to be lethal in English football, isn’t performing either then perhaps the former’s struggles are more a reflection on Mikel Arteta than the player himself.
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