Despite Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe’s excellent performance against Leicester, he was surprisingly dropped to the bench by manager Mikel Arteta for the 1-1 draw versus Burnley at the weekend.
The Ivorian international has been finding his feet in recent weeks and some fans on Twitter feel that Arteta should be giving him a longer run of games in the starting eleven:
The guy plays well and gets dropped?
— IsaacAFCG (@IsaacAFCG) March 8, 2021
He deserves more game time than Willian for sure.
— Niran A (@Niran_aa) March 8, 2021
Yes, plays good but just gets benched all the time
— Oskar ? (@AFC_Oskar) March 8, 2021
Mikel Arteta is the coach Willian might start on Thursday again
— Adejumo, Emmanuel (@emma4gunss) March 8, 2021
Well arteta doesnt fancy him much…
— Ketan Rastogi (@KetanRastogi9) March 8, 2021
Yes and this is why arteta shouldn’t escape the blame for Saturday
— Jamie (@jamie23699) March 8, 2021
When he came on the game changed against Burnley although it ended in a draw, he has been superb so 100% yes
— Johnny Mnemonic (@johny_arsenal) March 8, 2021
Underrated tbh
— Pepe_Is_Here?⚪️ (@Mustafi71524553) March 8, 2021
Arteta does have a fair few options out wide. Bukayo Saka has been the best player for the Gunners this season, while Willian has rediscovered his form. Gabriel Martinelli isn’t even getting a look in at the moment.
However, you do feel Pepe’s performance against Leicester should have been rewarded with another start at Turf Moor. He came on as a substitute on Saturday, and he really made an impact on the game. Perhaps Arteta will reinstate him to the starting line up when his side take on Olympiakos in the Europa League on Thursday night.