Arsenal Vs Manchester United: 5 things we learned – Mikel Arteta is a genius

3. Nicolas Pepe is getting there

Nicolas Pepe made his first start under Mikel Arteta. He scored the opening goal, delivered the freekick for the second goal, hit the post, and largely had Luke Shaw on toast throughout. This was a very encouraging display indeed.

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But without sounding too negative about his performance and long-term prospects, there are also several areas he needs to improve if he is to keep his place in the team. While he may produce moments of inspiration and rare quality that are difficult to replace by others in the squad, at times, he also has a negative impact on the overall play.

The first key issue is his slowing down of the play when he receives the ball. Such is his dribbling style, Pepe likes to stand the defender flat before than exploding down either side, exploiting his superior acceleration and burst. This might mean that he is able to get past the defender in front of him, but it also provides the rest of opposition with time to reorganise and structure themselves. Arteta demands that the ball is moved quickly. Pepe does not do this.

The second is his pressing. He worked relatively well in defensive areas here, but he does not press with timing or intensity. Rather than waiting for the right moment and then sprinting towards the opponent, Pepe drifts across into the area he needs to be in. It means he is always where he needs to be, but he is not actually effecting the game and the man in possession. Overall, this was an encouraging display from Pepe, but more is still needed.