Nicolas Pepe, once Arsenal’s record signing, has experienced a series of ups and downs since his departure from the Emirates in 2023.
After a one-season spell with Turkish side Trabzonspor, Pepe has now signed a two-year deal with Villarreal, marking the latest chapter in his career.
Pepe’s struggles at Arsenal were well-documented, with the winger often criticised for failing to live up to the hefty £72 million price tag that made him the club’s most expensive signing.
In a candid interview with BBC Sport, Pepe suggested that his development might have been handled differently if he had cost less. “The price is not the players’ fault, they don’t ask for 100 million or 90 million,” Pepe explained.
“If Arsenal bought me for 20 million, maybe it’d be different. Maybe they’d have spent more time on me, built up my confidence and prepared me for playing in the Premier League. But the price tag obliged them to use me, whether I was ready or not. That’s what I find annoying.”
After leaving Arsenal, Pepe moved to Trabzonspor, where he made 23 appearances, scoring six goals and providing three assists.
While these numbers were decent, they did not represent a dramatic resurgence. His season in Turkey was also marred by a couple of injuries, which limited his playing time and hindered his ability to make a sustained impact.
One of Pepe’s significant absences during the 2023/24 season was due to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Representing the Ivory Coast, Pepe played in five matches during the tournament, starting twice and providing one assist, while averaging under 45 minutes per game.
He also scored in the round-of-16 penalty shootout but was benched for the semi-final and final. His participation in AFCON meant he missed 10 club games for Trabzonspor, further reducing his opportunities to contribute at the club level.
Pepe has also opened up about the challenges he faced off the pitch, particularly regarding the treatment he received from some sections of the media and the general public.
In a recent interview with L’Equipe, he described his experience as “almost harassment.” He shared how the constant criticism affected him and his family. “I don’t pay attention to social media much, but my brother would say to me ‘they said that about you’. Subconsciously, it affected me,” Pepe admitted.
“It also came from the media or some members of the club. They don’t realise that it can play on the mind, on your family and that it has repercussions on performances. The only people who have always supported me are the Arsenal supporters.”
Despite these challenges, Pepe remains determined to prove himself. His recent move to Villarreal on a two-year contract offers him a fresh start in La Liga, where he hopes to find the consistency and confidence that eluded him during his time at Arsenal and Trabzonspor.
Villarreal, a club with a strong reputation in both domestic and European competitions, sees Pepe as a valuable addition to their squad. So far, he’s featured in all three of their La Liga games as a centre forward, starting one and coming off the bench in the others.
He is yet to register a goal or assist, getting in three shots on target from six attempted, with an xG of 0.4 and an xA of 0.0.[1]
As the now 29-year-old Pepe begins this new chapter in Spain, both Arsenal fans and football observers will be keen to see if he can finally unlock the potential that made him such a highly-regarded talent.
His journey since leaving Arsenal has been filled with challenges, but with Villarreal, Pepe has another chance to prove himself on a big stage.
Can he take it this time?