Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe may have dropped a major hint that he could be handed a start in today's Premier League match against Brentford.
The Ivorian has struggled for consistent minutes this season, starting just five league matches as he has found himself behind the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in the pecking order.
However, Brazilian starlet Martinelli is suspended for the clash against Thomas Frank's side after receiving a controversial red card during last week's 1-0 win against Wolves, leaving a spot free on the left flank in Mikel Arteta's starting XI.
It is expected by many that Hale End academy graduate Smith Rowe will fill that slot for the north Londoners, but Pepe's social media activity ahead of the game may hint that he could be given a chance to shine against the Bees.
The former Lille winger posted a matchday preview compilation on his Instagram story following Arteta 's comments that he had seen a change in mentality from the club-record signing in recent weeks.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Spaniard said: "Since he has come back from AFCON I think I have seen a different Nico as well.
"I don’t know what it is, probably he has realised the importance of the end of the season for him. He had a brilliant end of the season last year. He can replicate that.
Does Pepe get into your starting XI?
"We need him at his best because everybody is going to contribute. We are a really short squad at the moment and we need it and hopefully he has understood that we want to play him.
"I don’t want to have a player like him sitting on the bench and not using him and the moment I have chances, I want to give him a chance.”
