Mikel Arteta praises Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has raved about Nicolas Pepe on the club’s official website.

Arteta believes that Pepe needed some time to adapt to the Premier League, and that it was not easy for the winger to handle all the expectations on him.

The Spaniard has spoken highly of the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international winger’s attributes.

Arteta told Arsenal’s official website about Pepe: “He needed some time. It’s not easy when the club makes the investment that they made on him, the expectations are high.

“He’s handled the situation really well, he’s better adapted and he’s a player that is unpredictable, that has something special. It’s just about doing it in a consistent way.”

Nicolas Pepe’s Arenal spell so far

Pepe has been on the books of Arsenal since the summer of 2019 when he joined from French club Lille for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £72 million.

Pepe made 22 starts and nine substitute appearances in the Premier League for Arsenal last season, scoring five goals and providing six assists in the process, according to WhoScored.

The Ivory Coast international also made two starts and four substitute appearances in the Europa League for the Gunners during the 2019-20 campaign, scoring two goals and providing two assists in the process, according to WhoScored.

The winger has made one start and five substitute appearances in the Premier League for Mikel Arteta’s side so far this season, scoring one goal in the process, according to WhoScored.

Pepe has also scored one goal and provided one assist in two Europa League matches for the North London club this campaign, according to WhoScored.

Important player for Arsenal

Pepe is developing into a very important player for Arsenal, and Arteta’s aforementioned comments about him are very encouraging indeed.

The winger is only 25 years of age, and although there is room for improvement in his game, he has the potential to become a big player for the Gunners.

Arsenal will return to action on Sunday when they take on Manchester United away from home at Old Trafford in the Premier League.