Arsenal: Why are people having a pop at Nicolas Pepe?

Arsenal have only just started using Nicolas Pepe regularly, so why is it that people are already finding excuses to have a pop at his time thus far?

Over the last few days, there seems to be a ridiculous notion from some Arsenal fans and some sections of the media that Nicolas Pepe isn’t good enough. What I want to know is why we are we making such a judgement when he has started just two games?

When you consider that these two games have come against one of the best teams in the league in Liverpool away from home and a North London Derby it seems slightly unfair. I can agree that he does lack a certain amount of composure in front of goal, something you wouldn’t expect from a man who scored 22 goals last season, but he is playing in a much more competitive league.

He’s actually given a good account of himself. He has looked dangerous and has phenomenal pace. How many attackers will go to Anfield this season and worry the Liverpool defence as much as he did?

What I find bizarre, though, is why there is so much criticism after just two games. This is a player who has come from a weaker league, can’t speak the language and is not fully match fit, so of course it’s going to take time to even make a slight impression on a new league. One of the main criticisms is that his price tag was too high, and we overpaid, but people that is modern football.

We are currently living in a world where Harry Maguire is worth £80 million and Wilfred Zaha is quoted at £75 million. Of course his price tag was too high.

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The price tag of Nicholas Pepe is probably why so many people are expecting so much so soon, and the pressure of being Arsenal’s record signing is no doubt playing on Pepe’s mind too. But before we crush this guy’s confidence and rule him out as a complete and utter flop, let’s recap.

It took Dennis Bergkamp seven games to score his first goal for Arsenal and up to that point he looked completely out of his depth. 20 years ago I remember watching a certain Thierry Henry make his first start at Anfield and thinking what an absolute waste of space this guy looked and it took him half a season to start to show his potential.

Bobby Pires didn’t have the best first season and it took Freddie Ljungberg a couple of years.

Legends aren’t established straight away. Now I’m not saying for one minute that Nicholas Pepe will be as good as or as influential as these guys, but what I am saying is stop getting on his back just because he hasn’t scored yet. Guys! Pepe is a goalscorer and the goals will come.

It’s something that I have come to expect from a certain section of the Arsenal fan base who seem to enjoy tearing into a player the minute they make a mistake. It’s a vicious cycle and it’s certainly not healthy for this football club. I’m not expecting miracles from Pepe, not for the first couple of months anyway, but I’m still going to encourage and support him because there is some serious talent there and he is definitely an upgrade on Mkhitaryan.

There was genuine excitement when we announced the signing of Nicolas Pepe last month and it doesn’t make sense to suddenly rule him out as a flop after two games. I believe Arsene Wenger said it best—leave it to the end of the season to judge.