Nicolas Pepe says they will see what happens regarding his future after the end of the 2021-2022 campaign.
A little about the topic
The Ivory Coast international has hinted at a potential summer transfer, with the Gunners winger admitting he’s disappointed with his current role under Arteta. Much was expected of Nicolas when he arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Lille for a club-record fee of £72m in August 2019 as Arsenal saw competition from a number of top clubs to land one of the highest ranking prospects in European football. However, Nicolas Pepe did not live up to his price tag and started five PL matches for the Gunners in 2021-22 alone.
What did Nicolas Pepe say?
The Ivory Coast international has been linked with leaving the club as a result of his situation and gave a clear indication that he is open to a change of environment when speaking at a press conference ahead of the Ivory Coast’s friendly clash with England in Tuesday. Nicolas Pepe told reporters that he is focused on how well they are doing until the end of the season and the club’s goal of qualifying for the Champions League. according to Pepe then they will see what happens.
Nicolas admits he’s had a tough time in the Emirates amid a shortage of regular minutes when the 26-year-old can’t speak English fluently while playing a role in his struggles. Pepe added that it is an honor to play for Côte d’Ivoire. The most important thing is to enjoy your football. This is what Nicolas knows how to do when he gets the chance to play. This happens at the international level and a little less at the club level. It’s a shame not to play. No player likes to play, but according to Pepe, he must respect the decision of the coach.
When a team is winning, it’s hard for a coach to make changes. Arteta explained that he and Pepe know that he has to work hard in training to get more playing time. The coach knows what Pepe is thinking and how hard he is working. It’s also about communication. Sometimes it is not easy to communicate with a language barrier. It’s been a tough season for Nicolas Pepe.