Nicolas Pepe had his most productive game as an Arsenal player in today’s 4-0 win over Newcastle.
Scoring once and providing two assists, the Ivorian was a key part of the team’s first Premier League win since the 2-0 defeat of Man United on New Year’s Day.
Having been left out of the team for our last game against Burnley, the record signing bounced back in some style, and afterwards Mikel Arteta was asked if this was the kind of display the club paid £72m to Lille for.
“Hopefully,” he said. “We just need consistency from him.
“Wide talented players in this league is not easy to get because obviously the most difficult thing to do is create things, but we’ve said some things and we need Nico to maintain game by game.
“He knows that and it’s the way he was applying himself defensively in a few moments, he was top drawer.
“That’s what he wasn’t doing in the past and when he does that, the rewards in the other box come.
“He made a difference today.”
It feels a bit like both he and the team really needed something like this to get them going – and if both can kick on from here, we’ll all feel happier.
That’s put a Pepe in me step hey
He really tried today
Arteta must have give him a good Pepe talk at halftime
We win when he assists or scores.
Today was es-pepe-ally good!
His defensive work was amazing for an attattacking player. Great performance all around. His free kicks are also top class. He need to forget about the stupid price tag and keep working hard.
Pepe is the best set piece taker at the club, he looks like he has plenty of end product in his locker If he can continue to improve his defensive output? Then it’ll turn out to be £72million well spent. Emery’s legacy will be giving us proper wingers in the squad. Moving on Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, and trying to move on Ozil, who are all number 10 types, who like to drop into pockets, and have the game played in front of them. And replacing them with Pepe, Saka, Nelson, Martinelli, 4 very pacy wide players who dribble and play on… Read more »
Agree with you about Emery. He did a few good things.
This has little, to nothing to do with Emery imo. The time of the manager dictating player recruitment went out the door together with wenger. I am however delighted to see a more resilient team out on the pitch at the moment.
Sorry I have to downvote you. We have to give credit to Emery where it’s due and even though he wanted Zaha the fact we got a pacy wide winger is down to him…currently Pepe seems the better bet anyway.
Feel a little for Zaha. He played well and wanted a big move that he didn’t get, now maybe he’s lost his motivation a bit. That said it’s a situation of his own making, he didn’t need to sign a new contract and palace well within their rights to keep him.
The defensive efforts are non-negotiable as Arteta has been saying, but it’s truly the 2 assist and the goal that we paid the top coin for here. Thankfully has not been moved on just yet — he was great today. Arteta’s biggest contribution so far is turning this bunch of underperforming magnets of criticism into a football team. We crushed the passing stats and our game was full of intent in the second half, thanks to what Arteta has been building. He took care of our defensive problems first, and now he’s constructing an attack on firm foundations, and even… Read more »
“Thankfully OZIL has not been moved on just yet …”
He had a much better game today. Looks like Dubai helped him. Still too tentative first half but tracking back was better through the game and particularly second half where he offered better support to Bellerin who had his hands full with St Maximillian. Going forward, Pepe was more positive second half. Good cross for the first goal (if we were slightly fortuitous from slack defending) BUT nothing fortunate about the second. Rightly took charge and gambled into the box to meet Saka’s excellent work from out wide. Fourth goal also had his inprint as he played the ball quick… Read more »
Good for pepe. In his first season in a new league and with all the changes going on, he must of wondered what the fu k was going on! He deserves the praise and I hope it’s just the start of what’s to come once hes settled.
Yup. As mentioned in an earlier comment. BAM!