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Arsenal: 4 penalty taker options after Aubameyang miss – ranked

By Ross Kennerley

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal has his penalty kick saved by Ben Foster of Watford FC (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal has his penalty kick saved by Ben Foster of Watford FC (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Nico
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 22: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal converts his sides penalty and scores their first goal of the game during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on September 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /

2. Nicolas Pepe

How about this for a success rate on spot-kicks? Across Nicolas Pepe’s career he has taken 12 penalties and missed only once. Now that is an impressive record, one that amounts to a 91.67% success rate.

Of course, most recently at Arsenal fans will think back to one that doesn’t come up on the stats board, that being his miss against Hibernian. But that’s only pre-season and it doesn’t count, right?

In terms of his style, there are a few quick steps from a standstill before he comes into striking the ball in just as you’d expect from a left-footer. He has been known to change his technique up, like away at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup shootout defeat, but he does have a preference of going down the middle by feinting that he will aim towards what would be his inside post.

Most importantly is that he is an excellent finisher. In and around the box there are few players in the squad you’d want to have pulling the trigger in those areas more than Pepe. That is no different from the penalty spot. There is always the risk he runs of going down the middle that it will catch the keeper’s legs, sure, but that’s yet to unfold.

His first goal for the club came from a spot-kick and he’s since scored away at Sheffield United in the FA Cup, away at Everton in the Premier League and away at Villarreal in the Europa League.

What’s stopping him from being the regular penalty taker? One supporters would majorly back? Well, he has to be on the pitch first.

Continued on next page…

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