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Mikel Arteta has refused to rule out a potential exit for Nicolas Pepe in the summer.

The Ivorian has not started a Premier League game for Arsenal since October's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace and has found himself comfortably behind the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli in the pecking order recently.

This led to rumours late in the January transfer window that he could leave the Emirates, but with the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Flo Balogun the Gunners were keen on keeping their record signing.

At the end of the season though he will have just two years remaining on his deal in North London prompting fresh discussions over his future, and now Arteta has admitted his long-term situation is far from certain.

"I hope he does," said the Spaniard when asked if Pepe saw his long-term future with Arsenal. "But I understand when a player doesn’t play he’s disappointed and Nico has been disappointed because he wanted to have more minutes.

"Hopefully he can play many more minutes and he can contribute to the team because he has the ability to do it."

Despite this though Arteta backed the former