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‘Well done, Raul’: Alan Smith unhappy with ‘ridiculous’ sum Arsenal spent on one player
Arsenal icon Alan Smith has given his verdict on Nicolas Pepe and criticised the “ridiculous” sum the Gunners paid for him.
Pepe joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019 in a club-record move, penning a five-year deal with the Gunners reportedly worth .
While there were moments of brilliance and some great individual performances last season, he wasn’t able to put in consistently great displays week in, week out.
Pepe hasn’t exactly kicked on this term either, with some more inconsistent displays, not to mention his sending-off against Leeds which saw him suspended for three games.
The Ivory Coast international has now lost his first-team place and was an unused substitute in Arsenal’s last two Premier League matches.
Smith, writing in the , praised Mikel Arteta’s decision to give some of the Hale End gems more game time , comparing them with the likes of Pepe and Willian.
The Gunners legend accused the two players of “looking disinterested” and slated former head of football Raul Sanllehi for his role in signing Pepe for such a high fee.
“Let’s hope now that the success, enthusiasm and sheer effort of the youngsters rubs off on those around them, particularly the likes of Willian and Nicolas Pepe — two figures that have often drifted through games looking disinterested,” wrote Smith.
“We don’t actually know how good Pepe can become. Bought for a ridiculous sum (well done, Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal’s former head of football), the winger has yet to prove he can replicate his Lille form in red and white.
“Going further, you do have to wonder, looking at body language, how badly the lad wants to succeed.”
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Pepe was superb at Lille and, when he joined Arsenal on the back 22 goals and 11 assists in his final season in Ligue 1, it seemed like money well spent.
However, he has failed to live up to expectations at the Emirates and, while it’s not his fault Arsenal paid £72million for him, his body language appears concerning.
Hopefully losing his starting spot will push him to work harder in a bid to win back his place, and improve his form in the coming weeks.