Nicolas Pepe Archives ⋆ LSU

Sep122021 by JBNo Comments

Nicolas Pepe deletes Instagram post mocking Arsenal after beating Norwich

Premier League

Nicolas Pepe has deleted an Instagram post which took a light-hearted dig at Arsenal’s poor start to the campaign after their win over Norwich City on Saturday. The Gunners were bottom of the table after losing their opening three matches against Brentford, Chelsea and Manchester City. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal helped the London side get the first points of the season as they sealed a 1-0 win against Norwich. Lukaku singles out Timo Werner after Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa Jurgen Klopp ‘not happy’ & ‘surprised’ by Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Man Utd John Barnes names his three favourites to win the Premier League this season During the match, Arsenal fans were heard singing, ‘we are staying ...

Jan82021 by JBNo Comments

Wilfried Zaha slams Arsenal for signing Nicolas Pepe ahead of him

Premier League

Wilfried Zaha has revealed he held discussions with Unai Emery Arsenal transfer and believes it was a ‘no-brainer’ for the club to sign him ahead of Nicolas Pepe. Arsenal were close to signing Zaha in 2019 but instead the London side opted to spend a club-record £72m on Nicolas Pepe. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); However, Pepe has struggled to make an impact at the club and Zaha believes his vast experience in the Premier League should have convinced Arsenal. ‘I had a conversation with the manager, actually,’ Wilfried Zaha said on The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher podcast. ‘He was just like, ‘we don’t need to go through much’. He’s seen me play, he knows I can change games at any time and stuff like that. It was like, ‘yeah, we’d love to have yo...

Nov232020 by JBNo Comments

‘He let the team down’ – Arteta slams Nicolas Pepe after red card vs Leeds

Premier League

Mikel Arteta has described Nicolas Pepe’s red card against Leeds United as ‘unacceptable’ and has criticised the player for giving Arsenal a huge mountain to climb. The Gunners were dominated in the first half of the clash and their task was made even tougher when Pepe was sent off after an off-the-ball tussle. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Although the incident was not picked up by the referee, VAR spotted Pepe squaring up to Ezgjan Alioski before butting his head into the Leeds star. Arsenal had to dig in after that and were completely dominated, defending manfully and surviving a number of scares as Leeds hit the woodwork three times. Despite getting a point from the game, Arteta – who has reprimanded players for similar poor discipline in the pas...

Nov102020 by JB1 Comment

Frustrated Nicolas Pepe hits out at Arteta over his lack of playing time

Premier League

Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe has taken a swipe at Mikel Arteta by saying he has not been able to produce his best due to a lack of game time this campaign. The £72million signing from Lille has started just one Premier League game this season which is the 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, and has been played more in cup competitions. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pepe featured in both of Arsenal's Carabao Cup wins against Leicester City and Liverpool and has impressed with two goals and two assists in the Europa League. But despite his good return in those competitions, he has suggested he is not happy at Arsenal and is currently playing football without a smile on his face at the club. 'My goal is to play more. Have a little more playing time,' Pepe to...

Aug142020 by JBNo Comments

Arsenal to conduct review over concern they overpaid for Nicolas Pepe

Premier League

Arsenal’s board fear they paid significantly over the odds to complete the signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille last summer. Arsenal smashed their transfer record to sign the winger, agreeing a £72m fee, with the cost to spread over the duration of his five-year deal. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Unai Emery, who was manager at the time of Pepe’s arrival, wanted to sign Wilfried Zaha instead but was overruled by the club. Pepe was underwhelming during his first six months at Arsenal, but his form did improve towards the end of the season under Mikel Arteta. Despite his progress, according to ESPN, Arsenal wants to hold an internal review of their transfer activity in a bid to form a cohesive approach moving forward. The gunners’ Technical Director E...

May152020 by JBNo Comments

Unai Emery reveals he wanted to sign Zaha instead of Pepe

Premier League

Former Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has revealed he wanted to sign Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha over Nicolas Pepe. Arsenal smashed their club transfer record in August, when they signed Pepe from Lille in a £72 million deal. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pepe, though, has endured a mixed debut season with Arsenal, taking time to adjust to the Premier League. The 24-year-old scored six goals in 32 games in all competitions for Arsenal in 2019-20 prior to football's suspension due to the coronavirus crisis. Emery, who was appointed manager in May 2018 after Arsene Wenger left the Emirates, was sacked in November after a campaign and a half in charge, eventually replaced by Mikel Arteta. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ...

Oct12019 by JBNo Comments

Keane slams Pepe and says Saka looks more like a £72m forward after United draw

Premier League

Roy Keane has hit out at Nicolas Pepe after his poor performance in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Monday evening. The 24-year-old winger was signed in a £72 million deal from Lille in the summer window but has yet to find his best form for the Gunners. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Pepe was given another opportunity by Unai Emery to impress from the start at Old Trafford but he was substituted with 16 minutes remaining having struggled to really make an impact in the game. And Keane admits he has not been impressed with the start Nicolas Pepe has made at Arsenal. ‘Disappointed with him since he’s come to the club,’ Keane told Sky Sports. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); ‘Not great body language… okay, so...

Sep62019 by JBNo Comments

The story of Nicolas Pepe’s journey from a goalkeeper to Arsenal’s record signing

Premier League

Nicolas Pepe became Arsenal’s record signing this summer window after a sensational campaign with Lille that saw him chased by some of the biggest sides in the world. Born in 1995 to Ivorian immigrants in Mantes-la-Jolie, west of Paris - his fragile body frame meant he was selected to be in goal as he was seen as being too weak to be an outfield player. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); His dad, Papa Celestine, who was a prison supervisor, would walk him 10km to the park three times every week to be in goal with his local amateur club Solitaire Paris Est. According to Pepe, playing as a goalkeeper at a young age made him a better goal scorer as he understands how they think. “Playing in goal back then helps me a lot now," he said. "I know how a goalkee...

Aug222019 by JBNo Comments

Emery confirms Nicolas Pepe could start against Liverpool

Premier League

Arsenal manager Unai Emery suggested he is ready to hand their record signing Nicolas Pepe a first Arsenal start in Saturday's Premier League game with Liverpool. The Ivory Coast winger arrived in a deal that could reach a reported €80 million from Lille in the close season but has been limited to substitute appearances in victories over Newcastle and Burnley. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Arsenal boss Emery has been reluctant to thrust the 24-year-old attacker into action due to a lack of pre-season preparation at the club. But Emery hinted a more important role is possible for Pepe against Liverpool as the only two clubs with 100 per cent records in the Premier League play at Anfield. "The most important thing is, like a person, to help him and h...

Aug22019 by JBNo Comments

Nicolas Pepe reveals why he snubbed Napoli, Liverpool for Arsenal

Premier League

Former Lille forward Nicolas Pepe says he is "convinced that Arsenal is the right choice" after completing his club-record £72 million move. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The Ivory Coast winger was the subject of serious transfer interest and came close to signing for Italian giants Napoli before finally joining the Gunners. Pepe is now expected to form a fearsome attacking trio with Alexandre Lacazette and Aubameyang having signed a long-term deal at the Emirates. The 24-year-old faced a tough decision regarding his future after returning from the African Cup of Nations with Liverpool also reported to be amongst those said to have had an offer accepted by Lille. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); But now Get French Foo...