Nicolas Pepe has solidified Arsenal starting role next season

With the summer gossip and transfer rumors bubbling heavily around the Arsenal community, fans are on the edge of their seats “waiting” to see who Mikel Arteta and co will sign next.

With many players performing poorly during the course of this season, it puts them at risk for a potential sale or swap. With that being said, I think there is a clear consensus on who should stay and who should go on the Arsenal squad.

One of those (few) players is the Ivorian winger by the name of Nicolas Pepe. Pepe should be deemed untouchable/not for sale by the front office, as he has had a tremendous season while fighting much adversity.

We can go a step further and say that not only does Pepe deserve another season at the Emirates, but he has earned a spot in the starting lineup. Clearly, when you give Pepe consisteny minutes, he will perform and contribute at the right end of the pitch. No player recorded more combined goals and assists than him in 2020/21.

Nicolas Pepe has solidified Arsenal starting role after strong finish under Mikel Arteta last season

A huge reason why we did not see Pepe blossom until the end of the season is due to the way Mikel Arteta was using him prior. He was playing on and off regularly, which is a very tough way to get into any type of rhythm as a player, before hitting his best form in the latter end of the 2019/20 campaign – his single best performance coming on the final day in the FA Cup final win over Chelsea. There should have been no debate over his role in the side the following campaign but, of course, Willian happened.

What we saw building from 2021 was an upward trajectory for the 26-year-old, one that culminated in his excellent late season form when Pepe received quality minutes consistently. The result? Consistent high level performances.

What look liked a scared and timid player – one with his Arsenal career in tatters after Elland Road – transformed into an attacking machine that can started beating defenders with greater ease. His favorite left foot has become a trademark and even though defenders know he is going to use it, they can’t stop it. There are few better finishers at the club than him.

In 47 games this season, Pepe has managed to net 16 goals and chip in with five assists in all competitions. Many of these contributions came in the second half of the season (or in the Europa League), where he’s found the best form of his Gunners career.

Selected for the Europa League squad of the season, Pepe will have an enormous amount of confidence and momentum flowing into the next season, which will translate exceptionally on the pitch. He is a true talent that needs trusting more regularly.

An Arsenal side lacking in goals needs player such as Pepe to contribute. He will have set his own targets for the coming campaign and judging off his current flight path he can reach greater heights.

If he is used correctly, he will have an even stronger season next year, which is needed if Arsenal want any chance of breaking into the top four in the Premier League. On his day he can be a nightmare for opponents and they should continue to lose sleep this summer at the prospect of marking him again.