Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha has opened up on his failed move to Arsenal in 2019, with the Gunners making a move for Nicolas Pepe instead. Pepe, a fellow Ivory Coast international, ended up making the club-record transfer to the Emirates for £72million.
The 26-year-old has made just 15 appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring once and assisting once in those games. It marks a disappointing record given the transfer fee, with academy youngster Bukayo Saka taking up his preferred right-wing role.
Pepe did, however, enjoy a decent spell in the Africa Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, scoring in his time away. Following the trip, Mikel Arteta revealed he wants to give the winger more chances: “I don’t want to have a player like him sitting on the bench and not using him and the moment I have chances, I want to give him a chance.”
