Nicolas Pepe's feelings are clear on Arsenal future after Mikel Arteta private talks

Nicolas Pepe didn't want to entertain an Arsenal exit in January as the winger received interest from two French clubs.

The Ivorian has been on the fringes under Mikel Arteta this season as he continues to struggle at the Emirates following his £72million summer move from Lille in the summer of 2019.

Pepe appears to be surplus to requirements, a damning verdict given Arsenal's well-documented issues at the top end of the pitch after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's exit to Barcelona.

Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are the only two recognised No.9s at the club but Pepe, who has operated down in the middle in the past, is still not getting a look-in, in any capacity.

Pepe was linked with an exit in January, as a result, amid reports that Arteta was willing to cut his losses with the forward.

Pepe attracted interest from Marseille and Lyon with both sides keen on the player, according to French outlet L’Equipe via GFFN.

Marseille wanted to bring Pepe to the south of France along with his compatriot and Manchester United defender Eric Bailly. Lyon were said to hold an ‘equally’ strong interest in the player who ripped Ligue 1 apart while at Lille.

But it appears he wasn't interested in a return to France as the deadline passed without a move materialising.

football.london claimed in December that Pepe was going to assess his options in the winter window just gone by, should his situation at Arsenal continue to deteriorate.

Pepe hasn't played much football for Arsenal since that report came to light, but he has been away on international duty for Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations.

Pepe has found playing time hard to come by in the Premier League as the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel