Nicolas Pepe has cast doubt over his future at Arsenal after attributing his ‘tough season’ to a language barrier with Mikel Arteta. The 26-year-old, who is yet to have made a start for the Gunners since the turn of the new year, detailed the struggles that he has faced at the Emirates.
Nicolas Pepe said: “It is an honour to play for Ivory Coast. The most important thing is to enjoy your football. That is something I am able to do when I get the chance to play. It is happening at international level and a bit less so at club level. It is frustrating not to play. No player enjoys not playing but I have to respect the coach’s decision. When a team is winning it is hard for a coach to make changes. Mikel has explained that to me and I know I have to work hard in training to get more playing time. The coach knows what I think and how hard I am working. It is also about communication. Sometimes it is not easy to communicate with the language barrier – it has been a tough season for me.”
Pepe arrived at Arsenal from Lille three years ago this summer for an eye-watering club-record fee. He directly contributed towards just eleven goals in his first 31 Premier League appearances before matching his tally the following season in 400 fewer minutes. It was a mystery as to how Pepe, who had scored 22 in Ligue 1 the season prior, struggled to translate his displays on British soil. But, the winger continued and explained how the physicality in England proved a problem for him.
Nicolas Pepe said: “English football is totally different from French football, particularly the intensity in the matches and I had to adapt physically and make that transition which I feel I have done.”
