Arsenal: 3 major improvements Nicolas Pepe has made

2. Playing within himself

Like I alluded to earlier, when Pepe first arrived, he was a loose cannon. He looked like a wobbly top that couldn’t figure out what part he was supposed to play. He tried to do too much and, while it came off well from time to time, overall, it left both himself and the team in precarious situations.

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We’re seeing less and less of that. It’s being replaced by composure. It’s being replaced by level-headedness, confidence and a clear understanding of what he is capable of doing on his own.

In return, this has led to more excitement. He’s smiling more, grimacing less. He’s finding more space without having to force it. He’s enjoying his time on the pitch more, and that is stemming from the simple fact that he’s allowing this to come naturally.

Conveniently, he’s one hell of a natural talent. That makes things even better. The more he settles into himself, the more he’s going to be able to influence play. Funny how that works. The harder you try, the more frustrated you often get. The more you let it come naturally, the better you perform.

A continuation of this at No. 1.