Pundit knows reason ‘beautiful footballer’ who let Arsenal down struggles Manchester United and England legend Rio Ferdinand feels the weight of expectation is behind Nicolas Pepe’s struggles at Arsenal. Pepe, 25, has failed to hit the heights following a big-money move from Lille in the summer of 2019. The Ivory Coast international cost the Gunners a club-record £72m but they have yet to see much of a return. He made 31 Premier League appearances and 22 starts during his first season but found the net just five times. That was in stark contrast to the 35 he bagged in two years for Lille, earning him a move to the Emirates. The African blotted his copybook further by getting himself sent off the 0-0 draw with Leeds in November. He aimed a headbutt at Whites left-back Ezgjan Alioski and was shown a straight red card. In total, the former Angers ace has started just two league games this season and has one goal to his name. He did at least manage to chip in with an assist as Arsenal recorded a 4-2 win over Dundalk in their final Europa League Group B game. There is no question that Pepe is a talented player and he could still make it in north London. Ferdinand was critical of the forward after that match and pulled no punches in his assessment. “Nicolas Pepe let you down, I don’t understand it,” he said on his YouTube channel. “You’re a player who said before the international break that he wants to get back into the team, that he needs his chance and he’s not happy. “You get given your opportunity and you do something so ridiculously stupid and get sent off. It doesn’t make sense. You let your teammates down and yourself down.” Too much pressure on young shoulders History has been littered with stars who failed to match expectations after making a big-money move. It could be someone just does not ’fit’ at a certain club or is hampered by a clash of personalities. Ferdinand feels he has the answer regarding Pepe’s situation at Arsenal. And it may well be that his problems are mostly in the head as opposed to on the pitch. “I want to see Pepe do well. I saw him at Lille, beautiful footballer with skills. He needs to do it at Arsenal,” he added. “The big fee brings pressure and he’s not dealing with it right now.” Pepe will be hoping to keep his place in the Arsenal side when they face Burnley on Sunday evening. Mikel Arteta’s side finished top of Group B having won all six of their games. Pepe has scored three times in Europe’s second-tier competition this season, having started all the games. READ MORE: Arteta told Dutch star is perfect transfer solution to Arsenal profligacy The post Pundit knows reason ‘beautiful footballer’ who let Arsenal down struggles appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Manchester United and England legend Rio Ferdinand feels the weight of expectation is behind Nicolas Pepe’s struggles at Arsenal.

Pepe, 25, has failed to hit the heights following a big-money move from Lille in the summer of 2019. The Ivory Coast international cost the Gunners a club-record £72m but they have yet to see much of a return.

He made 31 Premier League appearances and 22 starts during his first season but found the net just five times. That was in stark contrast to the 35 he bagged in two years for Lille, earning him a move to the Emirates.

The African blotted his copybook further by getting himself sent off the 0-0 draw with Leeds in November. He aimed a headbutt at Whites left-back Ezgjan Alioski and was shown a straight red card.

In total, the former Angers ace has started just two league games this season and has one goal to his name.

He did at least manage to chip in with an assist as Arsenal recorded a 4-2 win over Dundalk in their final Europa League Group B game.

There is no question that Pepe is a talented player and he could still make it in north London. Ferdinand was critical of the forward after that match and pulled no punches in his assessment.

“Nicolas Pepe let you down, I don’t understand it,” he said on his YouTube channel. “You’re a player who said before the international break that he wants to get back into the team, that he needs his chance and he’s not happy.

“You get given your opportunity and you do something so ridiculously stupid and get sent off. It doesn’t make sense. You let your teammates down and yourself down.”

Too much pressure on young shoulders

History has been littered with stars who failed to match expectations after making a big-money move. It could be someone just does not ’fit’ at a certain club or is hampered by a clash of personalities.

Ferdinand feels he has the answer regarding Pepe’s situation at Arsenal. And it may well be that his problems are mostly in the head as opposed to on the pitch.

“I want to see Pepe do well. I saw him at Lille, beautiful footballer with skills. He needs to do it at Arsenal,” he added. “The big fee brings pressure and he’s not dealing with it right now.”

Pepe will be hoping to keep his place in the Arsenal side when they face Burnley on Sunday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s side finished top of Group B having won all six of their games. Pepe has scored three times in Europe’s second-tier competition this season, having started all the games.

READ MORE: Arteta told Dutch star is perfect transfer solution to Arsenal profligacy

 

The post Pundit knows reason ‘beautiful footballer’ who let Arsenal down struggles appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Neil Foster