Arsenal: How can Nicolas Pepe choose anywhere else?

Arsenal are among many teams vying for the services of Nicolas Pepe, but if he has been paying attention, there is only one option.

For as good as Arsenal have been playing thus far into the season, they still have one key position that remains devoid of players – on the wings. They have forced strikers and central midfielders into the role, but all the speed out wide has been provided by the fullbacks or not provided at all.

That’s why so many young, prolific wingers were linked to a move to the Emirates over the summer. Nicolas Pepe is just the latest of the bunch. He was a bit of an under the radar guy until he shot off to the start he’s now on, with eight goals and seven assists in just twelve appearances.

As such, Barcelona, Dortmund and Bayern are all jumping on the bandwagon for a guy said to cost £44m. It’s a steep price, but one that is already showing to be well worth the money.

For Pepe, he has finally owned up to knowing the rumors, and said he can’t say one way or the other which team he would prefer to go to, saying instead that they are all big teams.

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But if he has paid attention to what has happened to previous players in his situation, there really should only be one option – yes, Arsenal.

Pepe is just another potentially prolific winger to emerge from Lille’s ranks. The previous generation saw Eden Hazard go to Chelsea and Gervinho go to the Gunners. Hazard is now widely regarded as the best player in the league and, while Gervinho wasn’t a huge hit, his opportunity was there, he just fell short.

Pepe would find the same opportunity at the Emirates, and he would find the chance to be the next Hazard. his numbers are going to rival what Hazard put up in his final year in Ligue 1 and he can follow it up with a move into a wide open vacancy at a club pushing into the perfect direction for him.

Bayern and Barcelona are so overladen with players as hyped as Pepe that the opportunity would be buried. Only Dortmund can offer him the same opportunity, but Dortmund is not as big of a club as Arsenal.

Nor does Dortmund have the budding trajectory to do something really special. Pay attention Pepe! You belong here.