Nwankwo Kanu claims that teams are already scared of Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe

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Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu has backed Nicolas Pepe to succeed at the Emirates despite not getting on the scoresheet yet.

Arsenal and Nigerian hero Nwankwo Kanu spoke to Goal about the Gunners’ Nicolas Pepe and how teams are already scared to face him in the Premier League.

Pepe signed for the Gunners for a club-record fee from Lille in this summer’s transfer window and has had a positive start to life in North London. The Ivorian hasn’t yet gotten off the mark but registered an assist against rivals Tottenham before the international break.

Kanu, who spent six years in North London knows all about scoring goals and has backed Pepe to overcome the challenge of the tougher league.

He said: “He’s a good player. He’s got fast feet and I think he can unlock teams. He can score and he can assist. The league here is totally different from every other league so it takes time for somebody coming in to perform the way they have for their other clubs. But I think he will do well for us because now he is getting more game time and I believe he will complement the other two strikers.”

The front three of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Pepe is definitely a deadly one on paper but the trio have started just one game together. However, the two strikers scored and Pepe assisted Lacazette’s goal showing how well the three of them could combine.

Pepe’s two starts have come against tough opposition in Liverpool and Spurs. The former Lille man became the first player to dribble past Ballon d’Or favourite Virgil van Dijk in over 50 games and Kanu feels that teams are already scared when he has the ball at his feet.

“If you watch him you can see he is a really good footballer and his feet are very quick. He is going to score goals and he is going to play well. I believe that teams are already afraid of him after a few games. They are scared of what he can do and what he can offer. He’s a very good addition.”

With a lot of the season still left to play, Pepe has enough time to prove his worth and Arsenal fans will be hoping that he does exactly that as they target a top-four finish for the first time since the end of the 2015-16 Premier League season.