Arsenal: 3 reasons Nicolas Pepe is wildly superior to Wilfried Zaha

1. Arsenal’s no cakewalk

I understood why the debate was fired up last summer when Arsenal was still linked to both Pepe and Zaha. Fans enjoy discussing different transfer targets and deducing who would be better off for the club. But the season is almost over now and there shouldn’t be anyone still questioning the merit of Pepe, especially in conjunction with thinking Zaha is better.

Because, to put it simply, he’s here, he’s our answer, and we need to shut up and appreciate him. Pepe is the guy to move this club forward and if you in any way doubt that, or feel your faith slipping, just look at the numbers. Seriously. Pepe has done what he’s done on an Arsenal club in a state of flux. Three managers in his initial year in England, one of whom—Unai Emery—who wasn’t very fond of him.

So yeah, Zaha is dealing with Crystal Palace’s deficiencies, but Pepe has had to deal with the deficiencies of Arsenal too, and don’t underestimate how deficient those deficiencies are. Palace is just four points back in the table from the Gunners, after all.

Nicolas Pepe is going to be a world-beater. Zaha topped off at good. End of story. Better luck next time.