Arsenal legend Tony Adams has said Nicolas Pepe may well prove him wrong and turn into an excellent player for the Gunners, following his display against Leicester yesterday.

The Ivorian got on the scoresheet as he helped his side come from 1-0 down at the King Power Stadium to record a 3-1 win. Adams thinks the winger has taken his criticism on board and is showing the type of form that led to his club-record move to the Emirates eighteen months ago:

“I have been critical. Why did we need this player in the first place? Massive price-tag. £72 million and Saka, when we have got good kids coming through. But hopefully, he has put my criticism to bed, you know. He has put a performance in, and that’s what he needs to give himself a little bit of spark. The longer it goes in the Europa League, he is going to get more opportunities to play, gain that confidence and, who knows, next season he could be an exceptional player for us.”

It’s probably premature to say that Pepe has completedly turned his Arsenal career around but manager Mikel Arteta’s patience with the 25-year-old appears to be paying off.

It has taken the player far longer than people had hoped for him to adapt to English football but he is showing signs of becoming a key figure in the squad. Arteta has called on his senior players to lead the team forward and Pepe is certainly doing his part.