Arsenal: Mikel Arteta considers TERMINATING £72m flop’s contract
By Kian Long
There was a small conversation on social media recently about Nicolas Pepe. Fans were beginning to ponder whether he’d have a place in this Arsenal team, after returning from his loan spell and not being sent on another loan or permanent deal. However, Mikel Arteta doesn’t align with that prediction.
Arsenal consider terminating Nicolas Pepe’s contract
In fact, according to Goal, the Arsenal boss is considering the very real likelihood that Nicolas Pepe’s contract will be terminated. The Ivory Coast winger is under contract at the Emirates Stadium until 2024, but Arteta has no plans for him. Therefore, to avoid eating away at valuable wage resources, the best course of action is likely to be Pepe’s contract termination.
Unfortunately for Pepe, it didn’t work out for him in North London. Despite joining as the club’s record signing, he didn’t live up to expectations. Granted, there were some good memories and subtle signs of promise, but in the end he proved to be too inconsistent and couldn’t provide the important end product in the opposition’s half.
🚨 Nicolas Pepe will join Besiktas. The player passed a medical in Paris today. Pepe accepted Besiktas’ proposal in ‘recent hours’, after initially rejecting them earlier in this transfer window. [@lequipe] #afc pic.twitter.com/KREuTzgw1t
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) September 4, 2023
Mikel Arteta has always been a forgiving manager, but only if he sees something in the player. For example, Granit Xhaka was vastly improved and he’s currently sticking with Fabio Vieira and Kai Havertz to turn them into world beaters under his philosophy.
From Pepe’s perspective, he will be a free agent, so he is free to choose his next club. However, it’s thought to have already been decided, with Pepe to join Besiktas as a free agent. This is after he initially rejected them earlier in the window.
What do you make of this transfer news, Arsenal fans?