%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Arsenal: Nicolas Pepe currently the worst thing a new signing can be
By Josh Sippie
Nicolas Pepe deserves complete support from the Arsenal fan base in his first year, but his current standing is in the worst place it can be.
Arsenal‘s attack is in a bad place. As it stands, Manchester City have scored over twice as many goals as us. Burnley have scored more than us. We’re the only cub above 10th place to have a negative goal differential. And naturally, some fans want to know where Nicolas Pepe is, as he was supposed to fix this. Or at least some of this.
Thierry Henry has come out in defense of the Ivorian, and we should all be in full support of him, because it is absolutely hard to move from Ligue 1 to the Premier League. There was always going to be an acclimation period.
But even still, Nicolas Pepe is currently in the worst place a new signing can be—he’s irrelevant. He has zero presence on the team right now. None.
Related Story. 3 Players Who Deserve To Be Captain. light
He still hasn’t scored a single goal from open play, his last Premier League assist came on October 6th, and it’s just not a good place for him to be. Naturally his price tag is exacerbating the situation, but for any new signing, this isn’t a good place.
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
That said, Unai Emery is taking the right steps. He isn’t playing favorites because of price tags or reputation, he’s playing who he feels are his best players. In the end, that’s going to help Nicolas Pepe adjust to life in England.
There are many schools of thoughts as far as how to handle a struggling player. Some think they should be allowed to work out the kinks on the pitch. Some think that they should be benched at the first sign of trouble.
Emery has been a split decision on that one. Sokratis has been allowed to work through his troubles (until recently) and Pepe was the same, early on, but now that his struggles are growing, it was time to move him to the bench and let him wrap his mind around what he needs to do next to improve.
Next. 3 Players To Turn To In Hardship. dark
I don’t think any fan in their right mind actually doubts Pepe’s ability, they’re just frustrated that he hasn’t been an instant sensation and, as mentioned, has become borderline irrelevant. But that will all turn around. You don’t have that much talent and then just not figure out how best to utilize it. Pepe will score his goals and get his assists, and it will happen this year.