Mikel Arteta Predicts Big End To The Season For ‘Different” Nicolas Pepe

Mikel Arteta says Nicolas Pepe has come back a different person after AFCON…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has predicted a big end to the season for Nicolas Pepe after stating that the Ivorian star has returned from the African Cup of Nations a different beast, The Evening Standard reports.

Pepe was arguably one of the stars of the tournament in Cameroon, scoring twice in the group stage before Ivory Coast lost to eventual runners-up Egypt in the last-16.

The 26-year-old hasn’t started a league game for us in nearly four months, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli thriving in the wide positions.

Having said that, Pepe has tended to finish the season very strongly in his previous two campaigns in north London and Arteta is banking on the former Lille man to do that once again.

With the squad thin, both in terms of numbers and genuine goal-scoring potential, Pepe’s efficiency in the final third could prove vital in the fight for the Champions League places.

“Since he’s come back from the AFCON, I’ve seen a different Nico,” Arteta told reporters ahead of the clash against Brentford.

“I don’t know what it is, probably he’s 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.

“We need him. We need him at his best because everybody is going to contribute. We are a really short squad at the moment and we need him.

“Hopefully, he’s understood that we want to play him that we don’t want a player like him sitting on the bench and not using him. The moment I have a chance, I want to give him a chance,” the Spaniard added.

Saturday afternoon could be a moment for Arteta to live up to his words with Martinelli suspended for the Premier League clash after that despicable red card handed to him by Michael Oliver.

Emile Smith Rowe would be considered a natural replacement for Martinelli, but the 20-year-old has been nursing a knee problem in recent months which has limited his game time.

Pepe and Saka on the wings could be the way to go to break down and an inevitable low block from the visitors.