Arsenal: 'Difficult situation' over £140k p/w Emirates star they 'don't want to give up on'

Arsenal will be reluctant to offload Nicolas Pepe this summer due to the price that they paid for the winger, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

Pepe arrived at the Emirates Stadium for a club-record £72m back in 2019, but has failed to live up to expectations over the past three years.

The 28-cap international has featured in 16 league matches in 2021/22, but has only been handed five starts as he has found himself behind the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in the pecking order.

When he has been given chances, his numbers have been underwhelming. The 26-year-old has registered just one goal and one assist in the top-flight.

Pepe recently admitted that he is frustrated with his current situation at Arsenal, and revealed that he will be considering his options when the season concludes, suggesting that he could look for a move elsewhere if he continues to sit on the substitutes’ bench.

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Jones thinks Arsenal face a difficult decision this summer over whether to keep Pepe or not. He has hinted that they are edging towards keeping him as they are aware that they will struggle to receive anywhere near the same amount of money that they paid for him.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Nicolas Pepe is a really difficult one. There’ve been flashes recently of him showing what he’s capable of. The club don’t want to give up on him because he was such a big investment.

“They know they overpaid for him, I think. But, they’re not going to see that value reflect again in the next transfer market.”

As Jones mentioned, this is not a straightforward decision for Arsenal to make.

Pepe is now valued at £27m by Transfermarkt, meaning the Gunners face a huge loss of