Nicolas Pepe has admitted his loan spell with OGC Nice is getting easier as he looks to find his form away from the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners' record signing made the Ligue 1 side his temporary home during the summer transfer window and has since scored three goals in nine league appearances - five in all competitions.
His latest goal came during Nice's Europa Conference League win over Partizan Belgrade as he fired in the opener in their 2-1 win. The triumph saw them move a step closer to qualification, but it remains tight in Group D.
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The win over Partizan saw them leapfrog their opponents to the top of the ground with one game remaining but only by goal difference as Koln sit third, just a point behind.
Pepe found the back of the net with a perfectly executed side-footed effort inside 12 yards shortly before the half-hour mark. Partizan fought back and equalised with 15 minutes remaining, but parity was shortlived as Mario Lemina's deflected efforts wrong-footed Aleksandar Popovic to seal the win.
"I'm definitely feeling better and better. I'm starting to get to know my teammates, so it's getting easier for me. So long as I help the team, that's the important thing," the Ivorian said after the game.
So far, for Mikel Arteta, the plan for Pepe's loan is working perfectly. After his struggles in North London, he's finding the back of the net and, more importantly, growing in confidence.
Explaining the decision to allow the loan move, the Spaniard said in August: "I think Nico has tried to deal with that [the price tag] in the best possible way. He is not responsible for the price a club pays for him.
"He has tried everything. His attitude and the way he is, is just phenomenal. You just have to meet the person because you just love him for the way he is.
"But then, in terms of the decision, you have to make on the pitch, who do you select? We made other decisions, and obviously that has had an impact on the chances he had to prove his quality.
"It's been three years, and he had some very good moments, some others where he hasn't really contributed much in terms of minutes."
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