By Sumaiya Vawda
Holding a slender goal advantage against Everton, Arsenal were forced into a change when Gabriel Martinelli went down in the 71st minute. A stone-faced Nicolas Pépé looked on as the academy striker who rejected an Arsenal contract just a day prior entered the fray at left wing. Eddie Nketiah was lively without being effective, but if this game state did not call for a disruptive runner with strong shooting ability, when will Pépé be used?
When quizzed on Pépé's non-appearance, Mikel Arteta chose to speak to Nketiah's contribution. "I decided to play Eddie today, to bring him on and he created three chances and hit the post once in 25 minutes," he said. He further cited the young forward's application in training as a basis for his selection. Are we to believe Pépé does not work hard in training by contrast? The Ivorian was arguably the club's best performer at the end of last season and played a role at the beginning of the current with no indication of fluctuating work ethic since that time.
The unwillingness to discuss Pépé aligns with his time in Arteta's proverbial detention room. The 26-year old has only accumulated five minutes of playing time in the last seven games. When one is in detention, he is shunned by the manager entirely. The merits of the winger's unsuitability are questionable at best but cast more considerable doubts over his future.
Much of Nicolas Pépé's time at Arsenal has been an oddity. He arrived in London to great surprise for an eye-watering transfer figure. His participation in AFCON meant his start to life at the club was delayed. He showed flashes of speed and trickery before seeming to truly arrive on the scene scoring two stunning free-kicks against Vitoria Guimaraes. And yet, that was only a fork down a lesser path and not the route to first-team star.
Upon his appointment, Mikel Arteta preferred Reiss Nelson on the right-wing, but soon a more disciplined number 19 emerged, going on to shine in the 19/20 FA Cup final win. However, Arteta remained unconvinced to the extent that he begged the services of an ageing Willian. Despite his turgid performances, he was consistently preferred over the record signing. At the back end of the 20/21 season, Pépé rediscovered his scoring boots and was a useful aerial target for long goal kicks.
This season he has been eclipsed by the technical security, tactical awareness and youthful spark of English duo Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe, but injury to them has not been sufficient to earn him game-time. That speaks to his current rank in Arteta's mind. Given Smith Rowe's absence and Martinelli's recent injury, Southampton may present one of his better chances at featuring. While an erratic winger is unlikely to transform Arsenal's attack, surely his goal threat is a greater asset to the team than using a want-away striker on the flank. His inclusion also provides the option of positioning Smith Rowe centrally as the number 10.
There is an unsettling waft of Özil about Nicolas Pépé's current plight. A talented but imperfect player whom Arteta refuses to use. It seems unlikely that Pépé has suddenly become a disruptive force in the dressing room, but he is unquestionably out in the cold. When the team's two senior strikers are misfiring, it seems unfair that Pépé is isolated to such an extent while they are firmly in the manager's plans.
Pépé's inconsistency and overall playing style dictate that he may never peak at Arsenal. If Arteta remains the Gunners boss for the long run, Pépé may be best suited to a future elsewhere. Yet while he remains in North London, he should at least get substitute appearances where the team may benefit. And someone needs to set fire to the detention.
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