Another Arsenal star who left Emirates for nothing is now begging for another chance at Arsenal to play Champions League next season
L’Équipe report that Ivorian international Nicolas Pépé “has little chance” of playing for Premier League title chasers Arsenal again following a largely unimpressive season-long loan spell with Ligue 1 mid-table outfit OGC Nice.
The 27-year-old has made 27 appearances in Ligue 1 and the UEFA Conference League combined for Les Aiglons this season this far, scoring 8 goals and providing 1 assist during that body of work. Pépé joined Les Aiglons on loan after being considered by the manager of his parent club, Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, to not have the requisite qualities to function effectively in his asymmetric 4-2-3-1 shape.
His Arsenal contract expires in June 2024, meaning that there will be 12 months left on his deal with the Gunners when he returns. Observers of OGC Nice this season will know that the Ivorian international’s performances have not been effective enough to convince any major European football club that he has both the level of quality and off-the-ball commitment to make a serious impact for them.
Arsenal are expected to put the player on the market to seek to extract a few million Euros via the player’s sale and recoup a small portion of the €80m plus that the North London club paid for the player under the reign of Raul Sanllehi.
It is not believed that OGC Nice have any interest in making Pépé’s loan move permanent at this stage.
