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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Jonathan Gorrie

Nicolas Pepe ‘changed a lot of things’ over summer break to make success of stalling Arsenal career

Determined: Nicolas Pepe is eager to turn his Arsenal career around

(Picture: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Nicolas Pepe is determined to make a success of his Arsenal career.

The club’s record signing, Pepe has scored only 21 times in 112 games since a £72m move to north London from Lille in the summer of 2019.

With Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira having arrived over the course of this summer, competition for places has only increased and the 27-year-old is one of a number of players the club are considering selling.

Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Lucas Torreira and Pablo Mari are available this summer and Mikel Arteta is still keen on more signings.

Limited to just five Premier League starts last season, Pepe has been linked with moves to the likes of Newcastle United and Everton.

Into the final two years of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, this is Arsenal’s last chance of recouping even a small portion of the money they paid for the Ivory Coast international three years ago.

Taking to Instagram, however, Pepe declared: “I worked hard during the summer. Changed a lot of things.

“I’m focused and determined with Arsenal and my teammates.”

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