Ian McGarry has been speaking on the latest edition of The Transfer Window podcast about news relating to a few Premier League clubs.
One team which he spent a bit of time on was Arsenal, and he talked about the problems that Nicolas Pepe is having.
The Ivory Coast international was sent off in Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Leeds United last weekend – an action which Mikel Arteta branded as ‘unacceptable‘.
It seems that according to McGarry, Pepe has also struggled in training and is not meeting the expectations that Arteta demands.
He said: “I have been speaking to people at Arsenal over the last two or three days following this seemingly destructive path that Pepe has been taking with regards to form, fitness and then, of course, the red card against Leeds United.
“They’ve been quite open and said that the player himself has not integrated into the club or into the dressing room as well as they would have hoped or expected.
“His attitude and mentality have been poor, not just in games, but on a daily basis in terms of training.
“He does not appear to like or indeed approve of Mikel Arteta’s training methods, which are demanding and quite rigid – both physically and mentally.
“His response to that method of training to that way of being in a team has been lacklustre and certainly not what Arteta expects.”
Do you think Pepe is finished at Arsenal?
No, he will get a few more chances
Yes, he is finished
TIF Thoughts on Pepe and McGarry’s information…
Since signing from Lille for £72m in the summer of 2019, Pepe has made 56 appearances for Arsenal, in which he has scored 12 goals and provided 12 assists.
That is fewer goals and the same amount of assists that he achieved within his final season at Lille, when he scored 23 goals and provided 12 assists in 41 appearances.
So, it is clear that he is struggling, and according to McGarry, he isn’t training well either.
We feel that since he moved to north London, Pepe has been a disappointment; however, given how much the Gunners spent on him, we can’t see them giving up on him just yet, but it is up to him to improve his performances and revive his career.