Arsenal ‘flop’ has surging start to new season

Nicolas Pépé has started the new season in electric form for Villarreal, proving there’s life after Arsenal for the winger unfairly labelled a costly flop.

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Nicolas Pépé is proving that some careers just need the right setting. Written off after leaving Arsenal, the winger has started the new season in Spain in superb form, establishing himself as one of La Liga’s most dangerous forwards under Marcelino at Villarreal.

Pépé has scored twice and provided two assists already, earning recognition as La Liga’s Player of the Month at the start of the season and a place in UEFA’s team of the week.

He was also named Player of the Match in Villarreal’s Champions League 2-2 draw with Juventus this week. “It was Marcelino who insisted on bringing him in,” Marcareported in their Saturday edition, adding that the coach has made him “the main attacking reference” for a side enjoying their best start in years.

For Pépé, this revival is long overdue. His time at Arsenal was dominated by the £72 million transfer fee that hung over him from the moment he arrived from Lille in 2019.

Photo by Paul ELLIS / POOL / AFP

He was never poor, just overvalued, and his 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 matches compare favourably with the output of far costlier players such as Jack Grealish (17 goals in over 150 matches). Still, he became one of the scapegoats for Arsenal’s problems in the late Unai Emery era.

After a loan to Nice and an underwhelming spell in Turkey with Trabzonspor, Pépé’s career appeared to be drifting. He later admitted that his time in England had left him short of confidence. Villarreal’s offer, and Marcelino’s direct call, gave him a way back.

Pépé ended last season strongly after recovering from an injury and signed a new contract through 2028 in the summer. This year, he has been central to Villarreal’s attack.

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He goes to the Bernabéu this weekend as Villarreal’s standout performer, facing Real Madrid with his reputation on the up. Marca summed it up neatly: “El mejor Pépé amenaza al Bernabéu” – the best version of Pépé threatens the Bernabéu.

For Arsenal, it will always be a case of what might have been. For Pépé, it is finally what should have been all along – a career defined by his football, not his price tag.