Mikel Arteta would not make a mistake by adding Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal’s squad.
Journalist Jonathan Johnson feels Nicolas Pepe is a player Arsenal regrets signing not because he is not talented but because his mindset is wrong.
The Ivorian star made a move to Emirates in 2019 and become one of the top attackers in Europe after a wonderful season.
The North London club broke their transfer record with the purchase, but Pepe struggled at the Emirates and still isn’t doing well on loan at Nice this season.
He is set to depart the club and Johnson writes in his column on Caughtoffside:
“I can’t say with any certainty that there was anything like an internal enquiry about over-spending on the player, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did feel a bit short-changed. There’s no doubt Pepe had his problems at Arsenal, and I think it’s clear that that’s more down to mentality than ability.
“He’s a very talented footballer, but if you don’t take your development seriously and take care of yourself in the correct way day after day, then it’s very difficult, especially at a club like Arsenal, to give them what they need, so I think that’s why they feel very let down by that transfer.
“I think they’d say, with hindsight, there was no problem with identifying the talent with Pepe, but it was perhaps a lack of due diligence done on his personality.”
Mikel Arteta would not make a mistake by adding Pepe to Arsenal’s squad. The Gunners must cut their losses on him this summer.
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- Arsenal tracking Edmond Tapsoba before a potential summer transfer move
