There is no denying that Nicolas Pepe is a player with a level of ability amongst some of the best around. However, there are ongoing issues in the Ivorian’s game frustrating Arsenal and Mikel Arteta needs to learn how to better deal with them.
A brilliant win was celebrated by the Arsenal crowd and quite rightly too. After just two days of recovery, a 1-0 away win and a clean sheet to boot. Mikel Arteta got his selection and tactics for the match spot on.
Yet, it was in the moments of seeing out the game where the Spaniard needs to recognise an area for improvement. It is important to find these parts of the game so that the Gunners can continue to improve and move towards their goals.
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Nicolas Pepe has come on in all Arsenal’s last five victories. Only against Wolves did he enter the field when Arsenal were losing. His impact was massive and because of his goal and crucial pass to Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal have a great chance to finish in the top four.
However, in the four matches against Brentford, Watford, Leicester and Aston Villa, the Gunners were in a winning position. The Watford and Villa games in particular highlighted where the opposition were in the ascendency.
After Pepe’s introduction, all the sides grew more into the game. Watford even scored after the Ivorian came onto the field. When trying to see out a victory, Pepe is simply not the player that Arteta should be looking to.
The evidence suggests that even the argument of looking for an additional goal justifying his entry has no support. Pepe has never scored a goal from the bench when Arsenal are already leading a game. He has just one assist against Frankfurt in the 3-0 home win over the German club in 2019, coming on with the score at 1-0, he assisted an 85th-minute Bukayo Saka strike. Since then, however, nothing.
The frustration is that Nuno Tavares appears the much smarter choice of the two to come on. Arsene Wenger would successfully bring on Kieran Gibbs to play ahead of Nacho Monreal in moments where more fitness in the final third was necessary but more defensive ability too.
Tavares could come on and play ahead of either full-back instead of Pepe. We know the 22-year-old has an eye for goal and can create chances as evidenced by his assist for Bukayo Saka against Newcastle.
If Saka needs to be rotated or is injured then Pepe comes in for the England international, no questions asked. This isn’t a scalding piece on the player, it is an analysis of a specific game state that he is simply not suited to nor has ever delivered in.
Eddie Nketiah too was woeful when coming off the bench and the difference is the young striker is out of his depth in this Arsenal side. When he moves on in the summer, along with the likes of Mohamed Elneny whose contract is also set to expire, Arsenal have an opportunity.
Looking at Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino coming on for Liverpool for Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota should be enough of a kick up the backside for Arteta and technical director Edu to assess their squad depth.
A striker is needed without question, as is a central midfielder, to upgrade the starting eleven. But the club must not miss out on arming this progressive and improving side with greater options from the bench for different match scenarios.
