Alan Smith has told the Sky Sports podcast that he fears for Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe.
Pepe has impressed in recent weeks at Arsenal and seems to be enjoying his best run of form since moving to the club almost two years ago.
However, Smith thinks that Mikel Arteta will be growing frustrated with the winger’s lack of defensive nous.
And he predicts that Pepe may have to go back to playing as an impact sub in the coming weeks.
“He has been better,” Smith said. “With his attitude and work ethic at times and he’s produced some moments of quality going forward.
“The thing I worry about him is he does tend to switch off when he loses the ball and when the team loses it and that will frustrate Arteta watching from the sidelines.
“Sometimes he makes a little token run but I just don’t feel his heart is in it.
If that’s the case the manager will have noted that, he’ll have seen it, and that colours your opinion of a player.
“He’s got talent, there’s no doubt about it, but I don’t think he’s got £70 million worth of talent – that’s not his fault, it’s a bad piece of negotiating on Arsenal’s part.
“If they can get something out of him great, but it might be as the weeks go on he’s more of an impact substitute.”
If Pepe is taken out of Arsenal’s side that could be a disappointment, but his place does look uncertain.
Pepe has started down the left flank for Arsenal recently, which has put him in direct competition with Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.
Arteta actually favoured picking Pepe over Aubameyang for Arsenal’s last match against Aston Villa, but after his side drew a blank in that contest his opinion could change this weekend.
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