Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pepe has admitted he and Mikel Arteta were in disagreement over what he could've brought to the Gunners. Pepe was signed by Unai Emery during his tenure at Emirates Stadium in 2019 for a club-record £72million from Lille, but three years later he finds himself back in Ligue 1 on loan at Nice after a mostly disappointing stint in north London.
In his first full season in England, Pepe scored eight goals from 42 appearances in all competitions before enjoying his best goal scoring season the following year bagging 16 goals from 47 games. The rapid emergence of Bukayo Saka saw Pepe's game time diminish, however, with the Ivorian making just 20 Premier League appearances in the 2021/22 season, which saw no starts after mid-October.
Towards the end of August 2022, after Arsenal had won their first three league games with Pepe not playing for a single minute, the 27-year-old joined Nice on a season-long loan. Lucien Favre was the man in charge of the French club for Pepe's relatively bright start to life back in France where he scored six goals in 19 games.
READ MORE: Arsenal make Jude Bellingham transfer decision ahead of summer window and Declan Rice plan
A knee injury plagued the start of 2023 for Pepe, but he made his return just before the international break in a 1-1 draw with Lorient. After being a rather consistent figure under Favre, Pepe must make a good impression on new manager Didier Digard.
Nice take on rock-bottom Angers this weekend and the clash will likely begin a crucial two months in regard to Pepe's footballing future. In a press conference on Friday, Pepe revealed he is firmly focused on the remainder of the season despite the large magnitude of his summer decision.
As translated by France Bleu Azur, Pepe said: “I am very happy at Nice. There are two important months to come for this club. I want to concentrate on that and I’m not sure after that. There will be discussions."
Pepe also went on to talk about Arsenal, where he will return ahead of the 2022/23 season, revealing he does not know what exactly will happen, while also seemingly questioning Arteta's choices on his future at the club. “I don’t know what Arsenal want. I still have a lot of friends there. I could have been important for the club, but those are the coach’s choices," he added.
It is unclear what Pepe is exactly referring too but it is likely to do with his lack of minutes in the previous season, followed by the Spaniard's decision that led to him spending this season on loan.
READ NEXT:
Every word Mikel Arteta on Saliba's injury, Saka's consistency and Balogun's future
Pep Guardiola gives fresh Erling Haaland injury update ahead of Liverpool clash
Latest Arsenal injury news as seven miss Leeds United with Thomas Partey update
Mikel Arteta offers hope for William Saliba injury return for Arsenal Premier League title push
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
