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Arsenal fans discuss Nicolas Pepe display against Sunderland

Jordan Harris

Tue 21 December 2021 21:38, UK

A number of Arsenal fans have taken to Twitter to react to the display of Nicolas Pepe as the Gunners booked their spot in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with an emphatic win over Sunderland.

Mikel Arteta’s men largely cruised into the last four of the competition. They were given a bit of a scare towards the end of the first-half. But their quality ultimately told, and Arsenal went on to win 5-1.

Of course, Eddie Nketiah was the star of the show. The striker enhanced his reputation with a superb hat-trick. But he was not the only one to really impress.

Pepe came back into the side after a difficult run for the Ivorian. A substitute appearance against Southampton has been the only time he has featured in the Premier League since the end of October.

Obviously, it is difficult to get carried away with the opposition coming from League One. But there is little question that the 26-year-old could have hardly done more to stake a claim for more game-time.

He scored the second goal after some superb work from Cedric Soares. He also set Nketiah up for his third after nutmegging Denver Hume. And he provided the final assist of the evening, finding Charlie Patino eight yards out.

‘Quite promising’: Arsenal fans react to Nicolas Pepe display against Sunderland

Remarkably, moments later, Hume was nutmegged again by Pepe. Unfortunately, Martin Odegaard’s attempt was subsequently saved.

Arsenal are not struggling for brilliant attacking options right now. But Pepe’s performance was one brimming with confidence and moments of sheer and outrageous class. It may have been exactly what he needed.

With that in mind, here is what some of the Arsenal fans made of Pepe’s performance…

Pepe has been solid this 2nd half. Quite promising.

— Äkimitsu (@parkjinyoung_ie)

Pepe definitely should be used more from the bench but it’s the way he loses the ball sloppily that stops areta using him more but I do enjoy his unpredictably going forward.

— Arsenal98 (@04undefeatedAFC)

Eddie is gonna get MOTM but Ø has been our best player by MILES today, closely followed by Pepe

— XIX🇯🇲 (@_OsoSandro11)

If it weren’t for the hattrick Pepe would be MOTM easily

— jay footy (@godsavethekick)

I’ve been telling you guys, Pepe’s linkup play is always very good with odegaard, they like playing together and Odegaard understands Pepe’s movement more if everyone else doesn’t 🤷🏾‍♂️

— 🇳🇬ChinweAFC🔴⚪#NigerianPrince🇳🇬 (@afc_chinwe)

I’m always happy when Pepe performs like this, the potential is so so evident, he can just be really frustrating most of the time…

— MARXII 🐺 (@marxilin)

When Pepe is in his element, he is really good.

— Naa Oyoe Ofei (@NaOyoe)

Pepe and Nketiah have been absolute class tonight

— Des Moines Gooners (@DSM_Gooners)

So happy for Patino but today has been Pepe master class.

— Belemo (@belemo__)

Pepe has been unplayable today man

— Rakim®️ (@Rakim_Jr)