£72m star should be given another chance — Emmanuel Eboue

Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has made a heartfelt plea to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, urging him to bring back their record signing Nicolas Pepe to the Emirates Stadium in the upcoming season and provide him with an opportunity to prove his worth.

Pepe, who arrived at Arsenal in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72 million from Lille, has shouldered a significant burden to justify the lofty price tag associated with his transfer. Prior to his move to the Gunners, the Ivory Coast international enjoyed two productive seasons at Lille, impressively scoring 37 goals in 80 appearances.

However, Pepe has struggled to find consistency during his time at Arsenal, registering 27 goals in 112 matches over the span of three seasons. As a result, he was sent on loan to Nice at the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign.

Even during his loan spell in France, Pepe has failed to meet expectations, tallying just eight goals across all competitions this season. Recent reports suggest that Arsenal is prepared to offload Pepe in order to recoup a portion of the substantial fee invested in him almost four years ago.

Nonetheless, Emmanuel Eboue, a compatriot of Pepe and former Arsenal player, has advocated for his countryman’s redemption. Eboue believes that Pepe deserves another chance to prove himself in the Premier League and has implored Arteta to consider reintegrating him into the Arsenal squad.

In an interview with Ladbrokes, Eboue expressed his view on Pepe’s situation, stating,

“It’s going to be very hard for Nicolas Pepe to get back into this Arsenal team. Pepe has to work hard when he comes back. He needs to work harder than Martinelli and Saka.”

“Pepe needs to force himself into Arteta’s thoughts and plans. I’d be really happy to see him at Arsenal next season, though. And I ask that Arteta gives him a chance.”

Eboue emphasized the importance of Pepe demonstrating determination and perseverance to force himself back into Arteta’s plans.

While acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead for the Ivorian winger, Emmanuel Eboue expressed his personal desire to see Pepe back at Arsenal next season, along with a heartfelt request for Arteta to provide him with an opportunity to prove his abilities on the pitch.

As Arsenal evaluates their squad options for the upcoming season, the sentiments expressed by Emmanuel Eboue highlight the belief in Pepe’s potential and the desire to witness him rediscover his best form.

While Arteta and the Arsenal management have not yet publicly responded to Eboue’s plea, it remains to be seen whether Pepe will be given another chance to impress at the Emirates Stadium or if his future lies elsewhere.

The coming transfer window will likely shed light on the next chapter in Pepe’s career, as Arsenal seeks to make decisions that will shape their squad for the forthcoming campaign.