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Nicolas Pepe: The Nutmeg Express!

What would you do with Pepe?

  • Keep him for the foreseeable future

  • Give him one more season to prove himself

  • Sell if you can get a significant fee, keep otherwise

  • Sell at any price


Results are only viewable after voting.
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Sweet'n'Soulful

Yet another banned account of Jury
Taking the higher percent option would improve his game a lot. Problem is I don’t think he can evaluate on the fly! He backs himself to do mad stuff as he’s obviously confident he can pull it off from experience. You don’t attempt stuff in real time that you’ve not done with regularity before.

As others have pointed out, it wouldn’t be as bigger an issue if we were a better team and could negate his turnovers and dodgy decisions,but thats not a good defence of the player , is it? Because unless he’s producing brilliant numbers in that situation then you’d only be wondering how much better you’d be with a player who didn’t need his arse wiping.
 

Macho

In search of Pure Profit 💸
Dusted 🔻

Country: England
Well we might as well give up completely then.
Until we have a system and a style of play for players to slot into, it will be pointless, we will just keep churning through players claiming they are not good enough.

People constantly point to Saka and ESR as proof that sink or swim works, but they grew up here and are surrounded by childhood friends.

Absolutely zero integration needed and if they didn't impress, discarding them to the side wouldn't have been a big deal (see Nelson, Willock, AMN etc).

Ødegaard will be the 4th player we have come into the team since 2019 who is known for being able to play on the right (I am aware he is a central player) and people still can't see what's going on.
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Country: England
Taking the higher percent option would improve his game a lot. Problem is I don’t think he can evaluate on the fly! He backs himself to do mad stuff as he’s obviously confident he can pull it off from experience. You don’t attempt stuff in real time that you’ve not done with regularity before.

As others have pointed out, it wouldn’t be as bigger an issue if we were a better team and could negate his turnovers and dodgy decisions,but thats not a good defence of the player , is it? Because unless he’s producing brilliant numbers in that situation then you’d only be wondering how much better you’d be with a player who didn’t need his arse wiping.
Yeah, we're not there yet as a team.

Mahrez, Rashford, Salah are some of the other high-risk type wingers in the league and people don't realise just how much they lose the ball due to the dominance of their respective teams. Arsenal fans aren't really ready for a player like Pepe, neither are the managers really.

We're not a team that dominates and controls game so Pepe sticks out like a sore thumb, he's a player that could end up 'failing upwards' and doing better at a better side than us. I'll try post some stats in a bit.
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Country: England
@Sweet'n'Soulful prepare to shake in stat-induced rage.

Screenshot-2021-01-26-at-13-14-45.png


Here's a per 90min comparison for last season comparing Pepe to the other 'high risk high reward' wingers in the league. As you can see he creates chances efficiently and takes on players as well as anyone not named Zaha. This is all while adapting to a new league and playing for a much worse team than the others.

I included the shots per game to highlight the difference in service that he gets compared to them. My point has always been that if we created chances like City, United and the others top sides do then his quality would show and he'd be up there with those names. You put Rashford, Salah and Sterling into this team and they'll look very similar to Pepe without the goals to justify their risky play.

Arsenal as a team (and a fanbase) just aren't ready for this type of player yet but he's not so different from our rivals' star wingers. The numbers are literally right there.
 
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Riou

In The Winchester, Waiting For This To Blow Over

Country: Northern Ireland

Player:Gabriel
@Sweet'n'Soulful prepare to shake in stat-induced rage.

Screenshot-2021-01-26-at-13-14-45.png


Here's a comparison for last season comparing Pepe to the other 'high risk high reward' wingers in the league. As you can see he creates chances efficiently and takes on players as well as anyone not named Zaha. This is all while adapting to a new league and playing for a much worse team than the others.

I included the shots per game to highlight the difference in service that he gets compared to them. My point has always been that if we created chances like City, United and the others top sides do then his quality would show and he'd be up there with those names. You put Rashford, Salah and Sterling into this team and they'll look very similar to Pepe without the goals to justify their risky play.

Arsenal as a team (and a fanbase) just aren't ready for this type of player yet but he's not so different from our rivals' star wingers.
.

Why doesn't the Pepe card, have Nico's face in it? :lol:
 

Macho

In search of Pure Profit 💸
Dusted 🔻

Country: England
He was inconsistent last season but it's a shame everything good he did in the and the cup comps has been seemingly erased by many.

The numbers are literally right there but oh well. I agree, Pepe will fall upwards or end up in a CL club outside of the prem eventually - he's not as bad as many would have you believe and only 25.
 

Sweet'n'Soulful

Yet another banned account of Jury
@Sweet'n'Soulful prepare to shake in stat-induced rage.

Screenshot-2021-01-26-at-13-14-45.png


Here's a comparison for last season comparing Pepe to the other 'high risk high reward' wingers in the league. As you can see he creates chances efficiently and takes on players as well as anyone not named Zaha. This is all while adapting to a new league and playing for a much worse team than the others.

I included the shots per game to highlight the difference in service that he gets compared to them. My point has always been that if we created chances like City, United and the others top sides do then his quality would show and he'd be up there with those names. You put Rashford, Salah and Sterling into this team and they'll look very similar to Pepe without the goals to justify their risky play.

Arsenal as a team (and a fanbase) just aren't ready for this type of player yet but he's not so different from our rivals' star wingers. He's not the automatic possession lost
.
I only read the first sentence so I’ve not looked at the graph or even read the rest of your post yet :lol:

You alluded to other wingers at top clubs making the same amount of mistakes or turnovers but it not mattering as much because they are better units. I don’t know at this point what the stats say, but I will say this: Those wingers at the other bigger clubs just look more polished. The likes of Salah appear to be better footballers and their turnovers appear to the eye, not a graph, to happen as a result of a more, let’s say, rudimental approach to wide play and so results in far less hair loss and frustration for their fans when a turnover happens. Also, and needless to say, they more than make up for them, which is the key.

edit: read the post and predicted your argument quite accurately!
 
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Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Country: England
Nobody is ready for the baby calf trying to walk on ice.
Sterling runs like Velma from Scooby-Doo, Salah plays with a distinct lack of refinement but the numbers don't lie. My post above kind of sums up my opinion on Pepe and how he hasn't been utilised.

Not really much else to say on the matter , he's not a talentless bum, he's just not in the right environment.
Why doesn't the Pepe card, have Nico's face in it? :lol:
Tbf Saka and Willian don't either. Must be an Arsenal thing.:lol:
 
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Dennis_Bergkamp_10

Established Member
Until we have a system and a style of play for players to slot into, it will be pointless, we will just keep churning through players claiming they are not good enough.

People constantly point to Saka and ESR as proof that sink or swim works, but they grew up here and are surrounded by childhood friends.

Absolutely zero integration needed and if they didn't impress, discarding them to the side wouldn't have been a big deal (see Nelson, Willock, AMN etc).

Ødegaard will be the 4th player we have come into the team since 2019 who is known for being able to play on the right (I am aware he is a central player) and people still can't see what's going on.

Don't agree. Look at Partey or Gabriel, they came in, were good enough and made our team better. No integration whatsoever. It's not all about growing up here, having a system or style of play.. Even for Xhaka, people make excuses like 'he isn't used correctly'. Like we're playing him as a leftback or something like that.

It's the same excuses all over again, we've seen it with so many players. Sometimes, players just aren't good enough. That is the case with Pepe, Willock, AMN etc. Nothing to be ashamed about, it is what it is. Decent squad players and you need them for rotation, but that's it. And for Pepe, that's not what we paid 72m for.

We are in the position we are in because we have to many players not at the top level. The top teams have a system and a style in place. Who out of our players would get into City or Pools starting eleven? Not many. Why is that? Because they are not good enough.
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Country: England
I only read the first sentence so I’ve not looked at the graph or even read the rest of your post yet :lol:

You alluded to other wingers at top clubs making the same amount of mistakes or turnovers but it not mattering as much because they are better units. I don’t know at this point what the stats say, but I will say this: Those wingers at the other bigger clubs just look more polished. The likes of Salah appear to be better footballers and their turnovers appear to the eye, not a graph, to happen as a result of a more, let’s say, rudimental approach to wide play and so results in far less hair loss and frustration for their fans when a turnover happens. Also, and needless to say, they more than make up for them, which is the key.

edit: read the post and predicted your argument quite accurately!
Man I watch a lot of Salah (for FPL reasons) and he'd be hammered at Arsenal.:lol: You can see he doesn't have that European academy polish to his game but it doesn't really matter.

I kind of anticipated your argument too and so I included every way you can lose the ball: pass accuracy, dribble success, cross accuracy and shooting accuracy. So yeah it's all in the head really, silly things like a players's gait can be used against them so easily. I remember before Sterling exploded the way he ran was seriously used to bash him.:lol:
 

Macho

In search of Pure Profit 💸
Dusted 🔻

Country: England
Don't agree. Look at Partey or Gabriel, they came in, were good enough and made our team better. No integration whatsoever. It's not all about growing up here, having a system or style of play.. Even for Xhaka, people make excuses like 'he isn't used correctly'. Like we're playing him as a leftback or something like that.
Partey is a 27 year old pro fresh from a CL team who has been coached properly by Simeone for years, that's just not the same - plus how many of those type of signings do we make?

Gabriel, yeah cool but look how many CBs have been signed before we struck lucky with him. Still early days as well what if he regresses?

Look how many players that have come in for the right side of our attack already, a mixture of profiles with the only one shining is a teenager from our academy who can play anywhere.

Very poor examples that just proves my point.
 

Dennis_Bergkamp_10

Established Member
Partey is a 27 year old pro fresh from a CL team who has been coached properly by Simeone for years, that's just not the same - plus how many of those type of signings do we make?

Gabriel, yeah cool but look how many CBs have been signed before we struck lucky with him. Still early days as well what if he regresses?

Look how many players that have come in for the right side of our attack already, a mixture of profiles with the only one shining is a teenager from our academy who can play anywhere.

Very poor examples that just proves my point.

It doesn't prove your point at all. You said that we will keep churning players until we have a system and a style of play. I gave you examples of players who don't need it, and you even have examples yourself with the likes of Saka. Then we have the likes of Tierney, who is good enough. Leno, good enough. Mari looks te be doing well.

How come they can perform and Pepe can't? And AMN? And Willock?

Because they are not good enough. Not for Arsenal, not for Tottenham, not for Chelsea, not for Man Utd. We signed some dross on our right side, the right thing now is to move on, sell, and find someone who is good enough.
 

Moah

Well-Known Member
Sterling runs like Velma from Scooby-Doo, Salah plays with a distinct lack of refinement but the numbers don't lie. My post above kind of sums up my opinion on Pepe and how he hasn't been utilished.

Not really much else to say on the matter , he's not a talentless bum, he's just not in the right environment.

Tbf Saka and Willian don't either. Must be an Arsenal thing.:lol:
:rofl:
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Country: England
Partey is a 27 year old pro fresh from a CL team who has been coached properly by Simeone for years, that's just not the same - plus how many of those type of signings do we make?

Gabriel, yeah cool but look how many CBs have been signed before we struck lucky with him. Still early days as well what if he regresses?

Look how many players that have come in for the right side of our attack already, a mixture of profiles with the only one shining is a teenager from our academy who can play anywhere.

Very poor examples that just proves my point.
He also ignores how the most refined and technical part of football comes in the final third of play. That's where you see the most specialised players. Pep even said his job is to make sure the ball gets to his forwards in dangerous areas then he lets them do the work.

If you're not getting them the ball there enough then how can they do the work?
 

Trilly

Hates A-M, Saka, Arteta and You
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Those two are a level above Pepe.
Literally just showed you the numbers. They're getting a greater number of higher quality chances than him. That's literally the only difference, the numbers are right there.

In terms of what he contributes to the team (dribbles, pass accuracy, crosses and chances created) he performs on a similar level to him.
 

KrissKringle

Reinventing VAR 😡
Literally just showed you the numbers. They're getting a greater number of higher quality chances than him. That's literally the only difference, the numbers are right there.

In terms of what he contributes to the team (dribbles, pass accuracy, crosses and chances created) he performs on a similar level to him.
The numbers aren't always going to tell you the full story. He doesn't pass the eye test in comparison to those players and I shouldn't have to tell you this.

Decision making and balance just aren't on the same level. He'll have flashes every now and then, but you can rarely say that Pepe had a good game from start to finish.
 

Blood on the Tracks

AG's best friend, role model and mentor.
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Country: England

Player:Rice
Pepe's not a percentages player. Even on absolute top form he's going to give the ball away a hell of a lot. Nothing wrong with that, any risk taking offensive player is going to do that.

The problem is when you're not putting up goals, assists or even chances created it makes you look an awful player, which he's not to be fair. He's not a winger really he's an end product wide forward. I think his heads gone down a bit to be honest, which is kind of understandable.

He's a player you don't want to see picking up the ball in slow, laboured passing play around the halfway line. He needs to be cutting in off that right flank and getting as close to the penalty area as possible. That's where you fancy him to do something.
 
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