Mikel Arteta, much like pretty much everyone associated with Arsenal, had high hopes for club-record signing Nicolas Pepe.
While the Ivorian international wasn't the Spaniard's signing - Pepe was purchased by Arteta's predecessor Unai Emery, the current Gunners boss did initially try to get the best of a player that cost the club a staggering £72million, but it simply hasn't worked.
Of course, for a player of Pepe's undeniable ability, there have been flashes of brilliance. Moments of skill that has left fans wondering where that kind of talent has been hiding for the best part of three years. Having lit up Ligue 1 with Lille, the wide-forward has come nowhere near to achieving a similar output in the Premier League.
There have also been brief runs of form that have sparked optimism among the Gunners fanbase. After the odd curling wonder-strike, many of the Arsenal faithful have declared that this strike will be the one to act as the one to kickstart a faltering career.
But they were always false dawns. Take the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year for example, Pepe was representing the Ivory Coast and hit the ground running at the tournament - notching two goals in four games for his country.
With the competition taking place in the middle of the Premier League season, Arsenal fans hoped that Pepe could carry the form he was showcasing for his nation over to his club fixtures. Arteta himself had alluded to the same hope while conducting media duties.
At this stage, Arsenal were still fighting for a top-four finish in the league and the Gunners boss explained how vital an in-form Pepe could prove to be for the fortunes of the team. "Since he has come back from AFCON I think I have seen a different Nico as well," Arteta explained.
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“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."
Eight months later, with Pepe on the cusp of a return to Ligue 1 to join Nice for a season-long loan, it would be fair to say the 27-year-old has not taken that chance.
Instead, the Gunners are now desperate to offload Pepe immediately so that they can look to bring in his replacement as soon as possible before the window's end.
As for Pepe, the switch sees no obligation or option to buy clause included in the deal but the writing is very much on the wall when it comes to his Arsenal future.
