Nicolas Pepe's return to Arsenal has been delayed slightly, but the winger has been active on social media in the meantime.
Having not been selected by the Ivory Coast for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Zambia, it was expected that the 28-year-old would be among the Gunners players reporting back on the first day of pre-season training due to no international commitments during the summer.
However, whilst Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, Benjamin White, Eddie Nketiah, Rob Holding, Marquinhos, Cedric Soares and Albert Sambi Lokonga all made their returns, Pepe was not among the non-international senior players in attendance at London Colney on Monday.
But with good reason as it would appear that he's not quite fit enough to take part in a full training session at the moment. Taking to Instagram, the winger uploaded a video of him doing a recovery session with a personal trainer and the footage also revealed him getting some treatment on his right knee.
Now, this is rather significant as the Ivorian, who spent last season on loan at Nice, was a regular in the side up until mid-January but after suffering from tendonitis in his knee following the goalless draw with Reims, he would go on to make just five further appearances across all competitions.
Ultimately a lack of game time cost Pepe the chance of earning a permanent transfer and with the loan spell now officially over, he's already outlined plans to hold crunch talks with Mikel Arteta about his future: "I will return to Arsenal. I was loaned without an option to buy so I have to go back to Arsenal," he told YouTube channel Colinterview, as per the Metro.
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"I don't know [about my future] yet. When I get back, I’ll speak with the coach and everyone and see what everyone's ideas are and then we'll make a decision." Although as previously reported by football.london, plans have been made for the termination of Pepe's contract - which expires next summer - if required.
With that said, the Ivorian faces somewhat of an awkward situation when he does return to Arsenal as he's currently without a squad number after his No.19 was given to Trossard in the January transfer window and an alternative in No.29 - which he wore at Nice - is now taken by summer signing Kai Havertz.
As a result, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Pepe allocated a temporary squad number - as was the case for Lucas Torreira last summer after Gabriel Martinelli had taken the No.11 shirt - until his Arsenal exit is officially confirmed one way or another.
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