Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal Vs Liverpool: 5 key players to watch – Granit Xhaka’s test

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Granit Xhaka (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Granit Xhaka (Photo by Chloe Knott - Danehouse/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 12: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on July 12, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

3. Nicolas Pepe

One of the only players who has posed some form of threat to van Dijk is Nicolas Pepe, who at least scratched the normally serene surface of the Dutch defender.

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Pepe did not entirely run van Dijk ragged, but he certainly had positive moments when isolated up against the centre-back. His explosive pace clearly scared van Dijk and Andy Robertson, who offered him more space as a result, frightened to get too tight and find themselves chasing the ball as Pepe exploded forward.

Pepe has enjoyed an encouraging if somewhat limited first season in north London. He has not yet lived up to the £72 million price tag, but his talent has been on show at times and his numbers are more impressive than what they may seem at first glance. However, when it comes to playing the top teams, he is yet to have a statement performance.

On Sunday, Pepe was quiet. He struggled to get into the game early on the game, and bar a couple of flashed shots past the post, he did not really trouble the Spurs backline. In these major fixtures, Arsenal need their big players to step up and deliver match-winning performances. Against Spurs, Pepe left them lacking. Can he right that wrong here?