No excuses Pepe, it is time for you to deliver
NICOLAS PEPE has been told by Mikel Arteta that his “adaptation” period is officially over and it is time for the 25-year-old to start delivering for Arsenal.
The winger was signed from Lille for a club-record fee of £72million inAugust 2019 but has struggled to make an impact in the Premier League.
However, a standout display by Pepe in the 4-0 thrashing of Slavia Prague on Thursday night – which booked a place in the Europa League semi-finals against former manager Unai Emery’s Villarreal side – was the culmination of months of work from manager Arteta and his staff to build up the Ivorian’s confidence.
Ahead of tomorrow’s London derby against Fulham,Arteta said: “It depends on him.
“We can help him as much as we want but he needs to have the right mindset and consistency to do what he can do. If he
ARSENAL V FULHAM 1.30PM TOMORROW
does what he can do, he will have a big chance to play because he has got incredible ability.
“He needed a period of adaptation and that is gone now.
“He has a manager that trusts him, he has got all the staff willing to help him, and all the teammates who like him because he is a really likeable character, so there are no excuses.”
Club captain PierreEmerick Aubameyang is still fighting off the last vestiges of malaria and is unlikely to face Fulham.
Cottagers defender Terence Kongolo has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Kongolo only played his first senior league game on April 9 – after ankle problems all season – as Fulham lost 1-0 to Wolves.
Boss Scott Parker said: “It’s devastating for him.”