Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe capitalizes on the Joel Campbell experiment

Somehow, not every Arsenal fan is in love with Nicolas Pepe, but for as wacky as this sounds, he’s the successful culmination of the Joel Campbell experiment.

I just read a headline that said that Nicolas Pepe was dividing opinions at Arsenal, and that was the news to me. I didn’t know there were people out there that weren’t completely sold on the Ivorian, especially after he pulled out of international duty to focus on his club career, but alas, I stand corrected.

Apparently it is Pepe’s unpredictability that has some people not completely sold on his ability yet. But, as another headline points out, that’s exactly why he is exactly right for this attack.

I’m about to make a lot of the same points that I made in an article I wrote years ago in defense of Joel Campbell. Campbell was never given a shot under Arsene Wenger, and I suspect it was for the same reason that Pepe is supposedly dividing opinion—unpredictability.

Campbell was a live-wire. You never knew what he was going to do. He could dribble straight through a guy, pop a shot from 30 yards, or take the ball to the corner and cross, cut in, or any number of things.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

Unfortunately, that also included punting the ball into the 20th row, forfeiting possession, or any number of negative things as well.

But the reason why I stood so resolutely in Campbell’s corner was because the Gunners attack was so formulaic. Pass the ball around the box, look for an opening. If it isn’t there, pass the ball back around. If it gets desperate, send a cross into Olivier Giroud.

There was very little penetration, very little forced entry.

Campbell gave us something we didn’t have, and now Nicolas Pepe is doing the same. Even with the prolific striking duo, this attack can still get a bit formulaic, and at times like that, you need someone who can ruffle some feathers, try something new, invigorate. Aaron Ramsey used to be great at this, at trying something new, but he’s obviously not here anymore, and don’t get me started on that.

Pepe is that guy. Rejoice in his unpredictability, don’t question it. It is exactly what this attack needs. It’s daring. It’s provocative. And it is going to pay dividends in a big way when we need something different on a day when this attack just so happens to go stale.