Last season, Nicolas Pepe was one of the most talked-about players in the whole of Europe as he scored 23 and assisted 12 goals across all competition for Lille.
And this is why Arsenal paid top money in order to bring him to the Emirates during the summer but it is safe to say the winger has not been able to have the same impact in the Premier League so far.
As of Wednesday, Nicolas Pepe has managed to score only a single goal in 12 league outings and his poor form has been enough to form him down the pecking order at Arsenal.
Under Unai Emery, Pepe was on and off the first XI and even interim coach Freddie Ljungberg has wasted no time in dropping him to the bench.
Nicolas Pepe remained an unused sub during Arsenal’s draw with Norwich City last weekend and now Ljungberg has come to explain why the winger’s been finding it so difficult to get his rhythm going in England.
“Nicolas is a very, very good player,” said Ljungberg of Nicolas Pepe.
“Sometimes we come from a different league and it takes time to adapt, off the pitch and on the pitch.
“Nicolas is someone I plan on talking to, we’re going to have a little chat about how he feels about things. He’s an important player.
“I just think it’s a new country, a new way of playing and I’m going to have a little chat with him about what I expect and how I want to play.”
Arsenal take on Brighton at home on Thursday and there’s a belief the interim boss will give Nicolas Pepe a start in order to prove his worth to the club.
