Arsenal legend Ian Wright says he is very concerned about the performances of Nicolas Pepe after Mikel Arteta dropped him for the 0-0 draw against Burnley at the weekend.

Arteta became the third manager this season to bench the club-record signing after both Unai Emery and caretaker coach Freddie Ljungberg also omitted him from the starting eleven for some games. Wright is worried about the player’s form and lack of motivation:

“I don’t want to move him on, I want him to understand what he means and what he was bought for. When I watch him I’m not seeing drive and energy and desire.”

“Three managers have benched him. One left him out when we needed a goal, there’s got to be something they’re not seeing.”

“I’m not seeing enough movement from him, not seeing enough hunger from him to want to make something happen and he needs to start doing that because questions are starting to be asked.”

Pepe’s five goals and four assists in 27 appearances is not what Gunners supporters were expecting when the club shelled out £72m on the forward in the summer.

The player himself has said that he has struggled to adapt to the Premier League, but there is also a feeling that he isn’t completely committed to the cause, as Wright’s comments suggest.

Confidence is also playing a role, though, with Arteta having stated as such on his arrival at the club in December, but the Spaniard also said he needs to see more from the player in training in order for him to get first-team chances.