Arsenal: 3 players Mikel Arteta should build around

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BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 27: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal is put under pressure by Lewis Cook of AFC Bournemouth during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 27, 2020 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

2. Nicolas Pepe

While Gabriel Martinelli has flourished in an inside-left position that Mikel Arteta’s slanted 4-2-3-1 shape features, club-record signing Nicolas Pepe has not quite enjoyed the same success on the opposite flank.

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Pepe’s talent is outrageous. There have been plenty of moments that illustrate as much. His two freekicks against Vitoria SC. His brilliant goal and assist in five minutes against West Ham United. His all-around display against Manchester United in which he ran poor Luke Shaw ragged and notched another goal. In spurts, Pepe has shown what he is capable of. But he has not yet been able to put it all together.

How long Arsenal and Arteta wait for him to do so is up for debate. Arteta dropped Pepe for the 0-0 draw against Burnley upon Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s return and did not even turn towards the Ivorian when needing a goal in the second half. It was a little surprising to see Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock introduced in Pepe’s stead, to say the least.

Nevertheless, Pepe is capable of reaching a level that few other players in the Arsenal squad are. Arteta, it seems, has recognsised as much and is keen to get his potential star player going, but Pepe needs time, patience, and opportunity. What better period to give him such luxuries than in a four-month spell in which the results matter very little?

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