Despite an inconsistent start to his Gunners career, Pepe has been warned that Arteta expects more from him now.
Mikel Arteta believes Nicolas Pepe’s period of adaption is over, and he insists there are no more excuses left for the Arsenal winger.
Pepe has struggled to live up to expectations since his club-record transfer of €80 million from French club Lille in 2019.
But the Ivorian has shown promise and played a key role in Arsenal’s Europa League quarter-final win over Slavia Prague. He scored a goal in both legs and supplied an assist.
Nicolas Pépé has now scored/assisted against Manchester City, Manchester United, Spurs, Chelsea, Leicester & West Ham as well as in the Europa League quarter-final, the FA Cup semi-final & the FA Cup final. pic.twitter.com/KFAXf0Zc4R
— Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) April 15, 2021
Arteta, therefore, has challenged Pepe to keep up his new found form.
“He needed a period of adaptation and that is gone now,” said the Gunners boss as quoted on Goal. “So we cannot rely on adaptation again.
“Now it is about performance and he can do it.
“He has got the players to support him, a manager that trusts him, he has got all the staff that are willing to help him and all the teammates who really like him because he is a really likable character, so there are no excuses.”
Pepe has managed 10 goals and five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions this season.
“He needs to have the right mindset and consistency to do what he can do because that is the level we are going to ask of him, the level I am asking of him,” Arteta added on the 25-year-old.
“If it is something below that, he is not going to play, but if he does what he can do he will have a big chance to play because he has incredible ability.”
Pepe will hope to keep up his good form in Arsenal’s Premier League match against Fulham on Sunday afternoon at the Emirates.
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