Arteta makes final decision on keeping or selling Pepe as transfer window closure nears

Nicolas Pepe’s career at Arsenal appears to be reaching its end, with manager Mikel Arteta reportedly open to letting him leave the club. According to The Daily Mail journalist Sami Mokbel, Arsenal are actively trying to find a new club for the 28-year-old winger.

Pepe’s time at Arsenal has been far from successful. After joining the club in 2019 for a then-club record fee of £72 million, expectations were high for the Ivorian international. However, he has failed to live up to those expectations and has struggled to make a significant impact on the team.

Last season, Pepe was loaned out to French Ligue 1 side Nice in an attempt to regain his form and confidence. However, his time there was underwhelming, managing only six goals throughout the season. This lack of productivity did little to convince Arteta that Pepe deserved a place in his plans for the upcoming season.

With Arsenal actively seeking a new club for Pepe, it is clear that his chances of game time this season are virtually zero if he stays at the club. The Gunners have already bolstered their attacking options with the signing of Kai Havertz.

It is unfortunate that Pepe’s time at Arsenal has not worked out as expected. The winger showed promise during his time at Lille before making the move to England but has struggled to adapt to the demands of English football.

As Arsenal look to rebuild and compete for top honors once again, it seems inevitable that Pepe will be moving on from the club. Whether it be through a permanent transfer or another loan spell remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – his career at Arsenal is effectively over.