It has not been an easy season for Alexandre Lacazette.
The 30-year-old has managed to score just three goals in his 19 Premier League appearances to date, with Arsenal very short of options in the striker department.
Of course, it is not all about numbers. Lacazette has been praised on numerous occasions for his tireless work-rate and his work off-the-ball, but there is still plenty of pressure on him to inspire Arsenal to a top-four finish this season.
There may be a case in the next few weeks to try and ease the burden on the Frenchman a tad, and with Eddie Nketiah as Mikel Arteta's only other natural striker option, the Spaniard may look elsewhere in his squad.
Nicolas Pepe, who came on against Wolves just over a week ago and scored the equalising goal, could be an option for Arteta down the centre.
Former Arsenal star Michael Thomas, when writing in his JustArsenal column, was reflecting on that crucial win at the Emirates Stadium and called for Arteta to try Pepe through the centre of the attacking players.
Thomas said: "I must say, Pepe's goal was excellent and he is a really good player when the team is dominating the ball. He is very direct and causes opposition defenders to make mistakes.
"He has a goal in him but the consistency of his game needs to really improve. In saying that, it is very difficult for him to get that run of games due to the form of Saka, Smith Rowe and Martinelli and Arsenal only being in one competition.
"Every game will be important in the run up to the end of the season and we will need Pepe to chip in with some goals and assists when he is on the pitch.
"Perhaps he could be given a chance as centre-forward, but Lacazette is doing a very important role in the build-up play, which not a lot of players bring to the team.
"If Laca is able to get the goal-scoring touch again then it would be of great help to the team. I do think Pepe could do a job in the position also and we saw that from the AFCON."
Pepe impressed at the Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast and Arteta claimed he has come back to London a "different" player, when speaking ahead of Arsenal's 2-1 win against Wolves last week.
The Gunners manager said: "Since he has come back from AFCON I think I have seen a different Nico as well. I don't know what it is, probably he has realised the importance of the end of the season for him. He had a brilliant end of the season last year. He can replicate that.
"We need him at his best because everybody is going to contribute. We are a really short squad at the moment and we need it and hopefully he has understood that we want to play him.
"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."
