Arsenal: 5 players Nicolas Pepe should take inspiration from

1. Raheem Sterling

Raheem Sterling has developed into one of the best wide forwards in the world. Even in a down year, the Englishman’s electric pace, dribbling skill and scoring ability make him one of the most difficult attackers to contain. And Mikel Arteta, who is now the Arsenal head coach, played a crucial role in Sterling’s development.

This was Pep Guardiola talking about the improvement Sterling has made since he arrived at Manchester City and the role that Arteta played in 2017:

"“Mikel Arteta is working many, many hours and days after training specifically about the last action on the pitch – that control in the last moment to make the right movement in the final three or four metres. Raheem has wanted to stay there on the training pitch, to improve, to practise, to shoot at the goalkeepers. It’s part of the mentality he needs. He knows a striker has to score goals and he has to do that if he wants to achieve the next step. You won’t survive in the high level teams in his position if you don’t score goals.”"

Those same problems — making the right movements in the final moment, to take up good positions, to score goals and finish chances — are present in Pepe’s game now. As Sterling proves, Arteta can enact the same change in Pepe.