Arsenal 'fully expected' to sell £27m star at the Emirates

Arsenal are “fully expected” to sell Nicolas Pepe this summer, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The 28-cap Ivory Coast international arrived for a £72m club record fee back in 2019, but the winger has failed to hit the heights during his three years in English football.

Pepe’s stats in an Arsenal shirt read as 48 goals and assists in 127 appearances, which is far from disgraceful.

But that doesn’t exactly tell the full story, with many of those coming in the Europa League and domestic cups, with the £27m-rated attacker’s contributions in the Premier League minimal at best.

Following a difficult first campaign at the Emirates, Pepe appeared to have finally found his form when he ended the 2020-2021 season with five goals in his final three games.

Pepe was given further opportunities to prove his worth at the beginning of last term, but his lacklustre form eventually cost him his place in the side in October, and he wouldn’t win it back.

As a result, all of his top-flight outings in the final seven months of the campaign came from the bench, which is why O’Rourke believes he isn’t in Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans and will be sold.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “I would fully expect him to move on this summer, depending on what Arsenal receive for him, although Arsenal are open to offers for the Ivory Coast winger who has probably failed to live up to expectations since his big money arrival at the club.

“It doesn’t look like he’s going to figure in Mikel Arteta’s plans moving forward, so for Pepe, and for Arsenal, it’s best for the winger to move this summer. I’m sure Pepe will be keen to be playing regularly, while Arsenal will be looking to recoup some of that money they spent on him.”

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