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Arsenal Vs Vitoria SC: 5 things we learned – Nicolas Pepe papers over cracks

By Andrew Dowdeswell

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal past Miguel Silva of Vitoria Guimaraes during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 24: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal past Miguel Silva of Vitoria Guimaraes during the UEFA Europa League group F match between Arsenal FC and Vitoria Guimaraes at Emirates Stadium on October 24, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /

1. Welcome, the real Nicolas Pepe

When Arsenal signed Lille winger Nicolas Pepe for £72 million in the summer, they were looking for a dynamic, explosive, quick, skilful, goalscoring, creative match-winner. So far this season, that is not what they have had. But on Thursday night, that could not be further from the case.

Unai Emery turned to Pepe in the 74th minute. Pepe delivered. His first moment of brilliance came five minutes later. Standing over a wide freekick, the Ivorian feigned a near-post effort and instead whipped his shot into the far corner, the goalkeeper shifting his weight behind the wall and unable to recover his position. From that moment on, Pepe changed completely.

He immediately brough the ball down in the penalty area, beat a defender, dummied a backheel and had a shot blocked. Then he teed up Rob Holding with another freekick from a similar position on the pitch. Then he whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank, almost setting up another chance. And then, to top it all off, in the 92nd minute, he did what he was signed to do: win matches. Another freekick, this time more centrally, but with the same result, whipped into the top corner.

dark. Next. Arsenal Vs Vitoria: 5 things we learned

This is the real Nicolas Pepe, the one that is worth £72 million. Now, he just has to replicate it.