Mikel Arteta makes promise to Nicolas Pepe after Arsenal star's rescue act against Wolves

Mikel Arteta has promised Nicolas Pepe will get more chances to prove his worth if he can maintain his recent improvement.

Arsenal’s record signing has been reduced to a bit-part role this season following the emergence of Emile Smith Rowe, allied to the continued excellence of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.

Pepe, who joined Arsenal from Lille in a £72million deal back in the summer of 2019, recently returned after an impressive showing for Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations and Arteta has spotted a noticeable change in his attitude.

The 26-year-old impressed during a brief cameo against Brentford last weekend and came off the bench to make a telling impact against Wolves last night, scoring his first Premier League goal of the campaign to sqaure the match, before providing Alexandre Lacazette with the chance to claim all three points deep in injury-time.

‘I told you last week, I see a different Nico,’ said Arteta afterwards. ‘I don’t know, it’s his energy, his happiness, his all-round play, how he’s training, I was convinced that he could come in and do something for the team. 

‘He’s on the right path and when you’re able to do that and contribute to the team, you’re going to get more minutes.

‘The more minutes you have, you need to make the most out of them in training every single day and show what you can do. He has the ability to do it, that’s for sure.’

Eddie Nketiah, whose Arsenal future is also the matter of intense speculation, impressed as well as a late substitute and Arteta was encouraged by the England Under-21 international’s ‘magnificent’ contribution.

On the significance of last night’s win over a team rivalling Arsenal for a Champions League qualifying spot, Arteta added: ‘We don’t know