Darren Ambrose has claimed ‘this is the end’ for Nicolas Pepe at Arsenal if Mikel Arteta can secure the transfer of Raphinha from Leeds United this summer, as he told talkSPORT.
The former midfielder added that it ‘hasn’t worked out’ for Arsenal’s club-record signing, after the north London club paid £72 million for his talents in 2019 when Unai Emery was in charge (Sky Sports).
Despite being brought in by Emery, and then trying to get his engine going under Mikel Arteta, it just simply hasn’t worked out for the 27-year-old in the Premier League.
Bukayo Saka, who is a Hale-End product and just turned 20, has out-performed his senior teammate during Arteta’s reign and perhaps showcased what Pepe should have been producing during his time at the club.
Either way, with the possibility that Leeds United’s Raphinha could be added to Arsenal’s attacking mix, then Ambrose thing the end is near for Pepe.
“With the links to Raphinha,” said Ambrose about the £60 million man. “Then perhaps we could see the end of Pepe, which hasn’t quite worked out, for whatever reason.
“A lot of it is down to the transfer fee, which isn’t Pepe’s fault. But I think Jesus and Nketiah are suitable in the Premier League going forward and possibly battle for Champions League football going forward.”
RAPHINHA A MASSIVE UPGRADE ON PEPE
For a struggling, injury-prone and relegation-threatened Leeds side, Raphinha managed to bag an impressive 11 Premier League goals last season.
In comparison, Pepe has managed 18 in just over 80 Premier League matches, which just goes to show how much the Ivory Coast star has struggled in north London.
Whatever Arsenal do in the summer transfer market, they have to part ways with Pepe because he isn’t having any impact on the team and he needs to be moved on.
Plus, if Raphinha does swap Yorkshire for England’s capital, then he will be a massive upgrade on Pepe and another player that the former Rennes star will fall behind.
