Nicolas Pépé

Maybe I’m being harsh as it was a good performance from Pepe. Pepe did hit the post from the second screenshot and did create 4 chances overall including the wicked delivery that led to our 2nd goal.

Find the free man :pepe2:

Screenshot (351) (1)

7 Likes

Yeah I noticed these too.

Feels like this comes back to the “know where the glasses are in the kitchen” statement from Arteta.

This can be fixed on the training ground.

1 Like

I enjoyed watching him today. If he can be coached to do his defensive pressing better and to improve some of his passing choices he could have a good prem career ahead - both big ifs but I was impressed with him today nonetheless.

3 Likes

He scored most of his goals for Lille on counterattacks and free kicks so of course will need more coaching in a possession based side, but another strong performance from him, up to 5 goals now and unlucky not to be 6.

Disagree with the BBC choice of him for motm tho, for me that was Luiz or Torreira

5 Likes

Didn’t he find Auba from the first pic too for that scissor kick? So both scenarios ended in good opportunities. It’s also easy to pick that frame and point to the free man but Ozil wasn’t in that position when Pepe started his drag back with the intention of putting the ball across the goal.

Definitely feels like harsh criticism to me.

2 Likes

So many of our players could have been MOTM that is improvement and belief !!

1 Like

I loved the part about Luke Shaw in the BBC post match report:

While record £72m signing Pepe was at the heart of Arsenal’s attacking endeavour as they were roared on by their fans.

After scoring early on, he sent United left-back Luke Shaw halfway down the Holloway Road with a sharp turn before setting up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who sliced a volley over.

Apparently alot of Man Utd fans were a bit obsessed with criticising him before this match (perhaps they initially wanted him?) so this ws the perfect team for him to score against.

He has the ability to put many fullbacks on their arse (like Shaw) and with confidence and more settlement time in the league, he will for sure be seen as our scariest player.

2 Likes

United twitter were very jealous we got him instead of them. They’ve wanted him for ages.

https://twitter.com/chiefdouzi/status/1212719683591380994?s=20

And they’ve been after him from the start this season.

So it was perfect for him to score against them :ozil:

Pepes just slowly slowly getting stronger. And will be unleashed soon enough.

Look what he can do to non-Luke Shaw FBs.

https://twitter.com/PainInMyArsenal/status/1212719655619567616?s=20

Tbf, there were much more obvious chances completely missplayed by Auba and later Nelson.

He’s moving through the gears and gaining confidence, slowly but surely.

Great ball carrying and dribbling for the goal. AND he picked the right pass!

12 Likes

He’s slowly winning me over although thought his pressing when we were out of possession in the first half wasn’t great and I think Artetas style of football will need that to be better.

1 Like

For once he actually released the ball at the right time

1 Like

Spurts and starts. Needs his fitness fine tuning and a bit more awareness.

2 Likes

image

Throwback to one of the smoothest nutmegs

8 Likes

Only

1 Like

The reaction of the player thats mugged :rofl:

4 Likes

The Boy can play but his success will depend on his decision making and picking pass at the right time which he lacks severly right now.

His first instinct is to Dribble which is why he delays the obvious pass and flow is broken. He will be gone from PL in 2 years if he doesnt do that.

I guess he managed to piss off Mesut at leeds so many times. Not long before Arteta is pissed off too.

1 Like

The expectations are way too low for a guy worth 70m

2 Likes

Or we could take a more nuanced approach towards a guy who was basically an amateur three or fours years ago?

1 Like

I would but then I wonder that this guy must be earning close to 150k or upwards per week.
Transfer fee is obviously not his fault but big transfer fee comes to big wages and that should imo come to bigger expectation.
We are sitting here after 6 months happy that Pepe had a good game for once and was able to bench Nelson after 3 attempts. That’s an expectation to be had with someone like Iwobi or Nelson or Saka, not 24 year old Pepe.

He has to start doing better imo.

2 Likes