da bet sport： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
da spicy bet： After arriving at Arsenal from Lille in a club-record £72m deal during the summer transfer window, expectations would have been understandably high as to what Nicolas Pépé could deliver in his debut Premier League season.
Having scored 22 goals alongside registering 11 assists in 38 Ligue 1 appearances from his final season in France, the Gunners had seemingly signed a potent goalscorer with the potential to ignite their domestic and European prospects.
Yet until Thursday night when he came up against against Vitoria Guimaraes, the Ivorian had not lived up to the expectations that had surrounded his arrival at The Emirates, to his own admission according to The Mirror.
“Of course I knew it would be hard. This is a league totally different to Ligue 1. There is a different intensity. I had to adapt quickly because expectations were high. Unfortunately, that is not what I did at the beginning – but I had the manager’s trust and the players have supported me. I keep working hard.”
It would be hard to debate that self-assessment too; Pépé had just one Arsenal goal to his name after a shock defeat to Sheffield United on Monday night, albeit coupled with three assists, and couldn’t make the difference against the Blades.
On Thursday night, however, a well-struck free-kick from Pépé in the 80th minute saw Arsenal draw level, while another outstanding dead ball strike from the 24-year-old in injury time ensured Unai Emery’s side collected all three points against the Portuguese outfit, and it felt like a moment that has the potential to ignite the forward’s Arsenal career.
Emery had spoken candidly in the week about his summer arrivals needing time, drawing comparisons between Liverpool’s signing of Fabinho and the period of adaptation that is required for new arrivals to the Premier League.
Pépé has now played 12 matches in all competitions for the north London side this season, and we are perhaps now starting to see the full potential of former Lille man and the credentials that encouraged Arsenal to break their transfer record in bringing him to the club.
Given the clinical nature of the club’s main striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who won the Golden Boot accolade from 2018/19, grabbing the headlines has been difficult so far for Pépé – something he would have been understandably accustomed to during his final season in Ligue 1.
Yet after a match-winning brace and a sensational performance, this could prove to be the display that serves as a reminder to Pépé of his unquestionable ability, providing a platform to kick on and impress in his debut Premier League season with the Gunners.
Arsenal purchased their club-record signing to decide games in their favour, and the 24-year-old finally has an example of that to build on. It’s now a case of doing so on a more consistent basis, starting with Arsenal’s home clash against Crystal Palace this Sunday.