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  • Nicolas Pepe
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Nicolas Pepe

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Nicolas Pepe
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    @Nicolas Pepe

Ivory Coast midfielder Nicolas Pepe rose to stardom in the French league but struggled to live up to his price tag with Arsenal in the Premier League.

Nicolas Pepe is a French-born midfielder who plays for the Ivory Coast national team and for Arsenal; he is currently on loan at Nice. Previously, he has played most of his football in the French league for Poitiers, Angers, Lille and Orleans on loan.

At the start of the 2019/20 season he joined Arsenal from Lille for a reported club record fee of £72million and helped the club win the FA Cup.

Joining Arsenal

The winger was handed the number 19 shirt at Arsenal following his arrival from Lille. He joined the Gunners on August 1 2019 after a successful 2018/19 season in Ligue 1.

Life at Arsenal under then manager Unai Emery got off to a difficult start as Pepe failed to live up to his price tag in his first few appearances. Pepe scored his first Arsenal goal, a penalty, in a 3-2 home win over Aston Villa in September.

In November 2019, Emery was sacked as manager following seven games without a win. He was replaced by Freddie Ljungberg on an interim basis before Mikel Arteta was appointed permanently.

Arsenal continued to be inconsistent in the Premier League finishing in 8th place. However, Pepe was part of Arsenal's successful 2020 FA Cup run, helping the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final.

Arsenal, FA Cup

Arsenal's Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette after winning the 2020 FA Cup

The winger was not always first choice for the Gunners, during the 2019/20 season, but he managed to make 42 appearances in all competitions and score eight goals.
In 2020/21, Pepe struggled to hold down a spot in the Arsenal team. After a red card in a goalless draw against Leeds, he drew criticism from Arteta.
In August 2022, Pepe was sent on a season-long loan to Ligue 1 club Nice in a bid to reignite his career.

Rising talent at Lille

Pepe joined Lille from Angers ahead of the 2017/18 season on a five-year deal for a reported transfer fee of €10 million.

Pepe was signed by Marcelo Bielsa, and began the 2017/18 season as a striker, having been converted into this position by the Argentine head coach.
After Christophe Galtier took over from Bielsa, Pepe finished his first season at Lille as a winger. He scored 13 goals in Ligue 1 as Lille narrowly avoided relegation.

The following season was a prolific one for Pepe as he netted 22 times in Ligue 1, finishing second only to Kylian Mbappe in the Ligue 1 top scorers race. Having finished 17th the previous season, Lille finished second to Paris Saint-Germain in 2018/19.

During his time at Lille, Pepe was named club's Player of the Season and in the Ligue 1 Team Year for the 2018/19 season.

Ivory Coast international

Pepe was born in France but opted to represent the Ivory Coast, due to his parents' African heritage. In November 2016, he made his international debut, ironically against France as he came off the bench.
Pepe made the Ivory Coast squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, but it proved a disappointment for the reigning champions as they were eliminated at the group stage.
On March 24 2018, Pepe scored his first international goals, scoring in the 16th and 24th minute of a friendly against Togo at the Stade Pierre Brisson in France.
Pepe again travelled with Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. However, The Elephants were eliminated on penalties in the quarter-finals by eventual champions Algeria.

Personal life

On 4 July 2020, Arsenal took to social media to announce that Pepe was about to become a father. As a result, he missed the 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Net worth

Pepe's five year contract with Arsenal signed in 2019 is worth a reported £105,000 per week.

Nicolas Pepe News

  • Planet Sport writer
  • Planet Sport writer
  • 13 days ago

Arsenal release 112-word statement as £72m flop Nicolas Pepe departs the club

Arsenal have confirmed the departure of former club record signing Nicolas Pepe.

  • Nicolas Pepe
  • Arsenal FC
  • Heinrich Griessel
  • Heinrich Griessel
  • 2 months ago

Nicolas Pepe admits to some frustrations under Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Nicolas Pepe was disappointed when Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta relegated him to the bench.

  • Nicolas Pepe
  • Mikel Arteta
  • Oscar Sanders
  • Oscar Sanders
  • 3 months ago

Arsenal flop Nicolas Pepe does not feature in manager Mikel Arteta's plans

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly deemed Nicolas Pepe surplus to requirements and is looking to offload the Ivory Coast international.

  • Nicolas Pepe
  • Arsenal FC
  • Simon Wilkes
  • Simon Wilkes
  • 1 year ago

Arsenal linked with Wolves winger Pedro Neto - but Mikel Arteta happy with squad

Arsenal have been linked with a move for Wolves winger Pedro Neto before the end of the summer transfer window - but manager Mikel Arteta admits he is no rush to sign a replacement for Nicolas Pepe.

  • Nicolas Pepe
  • Mikel Arteta
  • Planet Sport writer
  • Planet Sport writer
  • 1 year ago

Nice snap up Nicolas Pepe on loan from Arsenal

Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe has joined Ligue 1 side Nice on a season-long loan, although no option to buy has been included in the deal.

  • Nicolas Pepe
  • Arsenal FC
  • Seb Sternik
  • Seb Sternik
  • 1 year ago

Arsenal set sights on Youri Tielemans while Nicolas Pepe and Bernd Leno face exit door

Arsenal are said to be considering a clearout as they look to finance further moves in the summer transfer market, including a potential deal over Leicester City's Youri Tielemans.

  • Nicolas Pepe
  • Arsenal FC
  • Dave Tindall
  • Dave Tindall
  • 1 year ago

England vs Ivory Coast news: Three Lions can roar to victory against Elephants

Gareth Southgate’s men fought back well to beat Switzerland on Saturday and can continue their fine record in friendlies by seeing off Ivory Coast on Tuesday night.

  • Wilfried Zaha
  • Gareth Southgate