Nicolas Pepe’s Arsenal career is well and truly over

How many times has this been said? Too much for comfort. Arsenal, which had taken the lead and then did the same to return the game to 2-2, had to make a substitution.

What does the bench say?? In terms of options to bring in who can change the game in an offensive direction, there are Sambi Lokonga, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe.

A case could be made for two midfielders on the pitch to enhance central ball movement. Bukayo Saka has been brought on at this point but Arsenal need more up front, especially with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seemingly unable to score for a month on Sunday and Gabriel Martinelli keen to switch focus.

Mikel Arteta bring back Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.

Nicolas Pepe’s Arsenal career looked good and really came to an end after Mikel Arteta tapped Ivorian again in the 3-2 Premier League loss to Manchester United

Putting aside the fact that these two won’t be here after the season – one of them refuse a new contract 24 hours before – they seriously make threats what is the target?

Nketiah hasn’t changed at all. Replacing the captain and amulet, he tried to drop the worm and the play link didn’t work. Arsenal are the same with him on the pitch as they are with Aubameyang, that says a lot.

Lacazette is not a goalscorer either. He had one season in the whole league. Operating in a backup No 10 style role tells us all we need to know about his threat in front of goal.

No, not as perfect as him, you would call on Nicolas Pepe to change the game. At least you would think so, as he is one of the few players in this squad who can drop 3/10 of a performance and still come out with a goal or an assist. He has a knack for him in places that even on his worst days he can create.

Instead, he remains on the bench for the fifth time in six Premier League games. Accumulating a total of five minutes into that spell, any lingering doubts about his long-term future at the club can be dispelled. The manager has clearly made up his mind.

Martinelli received the nod on the right side in place of Saka and his performance ensured he would at least be a broad third choice ahead, with his inclusion against Everton more likely to change attack positions.

Pepe will get his minutes, here or there. There could be a game against Sunderland in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, but that could also be seen as too high a form for him in the eyes of the manager. Having two academy kids and another 20-year-old provided more than one player in his prime. Write on the wall.

While fans have no idea what’s going on on the training ground, they don’t have to. It was clear that Pepe showed nothing in London Colney to suggest he warrants any involvement, let alone the last ten minutes of a game Arsenal are trying to find an equalizer in front of a line. terrifyingly weak.

“Are not [Pepe will not be leaving in January], and this is not the time to talk about that, ”Arteta said recently. “We’re interested in Nico performing at the level he can be.”

How believable is that? Not necessarily.

There is no turning back for him, and with two years left on his contract in the summer, the valuation Arsenal have for him will dwindle until enough offers are made. It’s also counterproductive though, as his value will only decrease as the minutes get shorter, but where he sits is in Arteta’s estimate so low that this may not even cross his mind.