Arsenal and Nicolas Pepe: Price tag pressure conveys concerning mentality

Mikel Arteta alluded to Nicolas Pepe’s price tag as a reason for the Ivorian’s struggles at Arsenal. But bowing to such pressure conveys a concerningly weak mentality.

Nicolas Pepe was meant to be Arsenal’s best player. That is quite the statement to make, but it is precisely who they thought they were signing when they decided to invest a club-record £72 million in his services. He should be great.

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There have been flashes of his talent in his first season at the club, but the consistent production and performance has been difficult to find. He has the talent to produce at the level expected of him, without question, but many players are supremely gifted. That does not mean that they produce at the peak of their powers, and Pepe’s first season in north London, by that measure, has been underwhelming.

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Head coach Mikel Arteta was asked why he believes Pepe has struggled this season, as well as what he, his coaches and the club more generally can do to help their underperforming star. Arteta raised the problem of the added pressure that comes with such a substantial fee paid. Speaking on Friday in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said:

"“The price that we paid for him puts him in a difficult position straight away because he’s going to be compared to players of that calibre. He was in France and was one of the biggest stars in the league. He had an incredible year. Now he comes here and a lot of people didn’t even know him and you paid that price tag. So for him to put his brain into this picture and solve all this is not easy.”"

The advancements of the tactical understanding, statistical analysis, and detailed examination of football on a scientific level has been wonderful and one of the most influential changes in the game over the past decade. The sport has altered immeasurably as a result of these brilliant elements.

But while numbers, statistics and tactical analysis certainly matter, there are intangible elements to football that they miss, and the individual mentality of the players is one of those things. To win, players must be more than just capable or talented or even lucky. There is an inner determination, desire, desperation, even, to make the most of themselves, to succeed, to be victorious.

That Pepe might be impacted by his price tag conveys a concerningly weak mentality; that he cannot handle the inevitable pressure that comes with top-level success suggests that he might never be able to deliver on his top-level talent. These statements are speculation, of course. Only Pepe and a select few know his own mindset. But a true winner would relish the price tag, not shy away from it.

What comes of Pepe at Arsenal remains to be seen. He is supremely talented and is still adapting to life at the club. There is no reason to panic just yet. But his mentality will dictate his success, and if he is struggling to deal with his price tag, as Arteta suggests, that is concerning.