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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told to drop £72m record signing Nicolas Pepe


Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been urged to drop Nicolas Pepe for the crunch Europa League clash with Olympiakos om Thursday night.

The Gunners hold a slender 1-0 lead over their Greek counterparts going in to the second leg of their last-32 tie at the Emirates.

With the Gunners ninth in the Premier League and trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by seven points, the European competition represents arguably the best chance for Arteta’s side to secure Champions League football next season.

And Charlie Nicholas has predicted how Arteta should line-up for the encounter, believing the Gunners can follow up on their recent 3-2 win over Everton.

Arsenal Head Coach Mikel Arteta talks with Nicolas Pepe

But the Sky Sports pundit reckons Pepe, who has struggled since arriving for a club-record £72million in the summer, should be dropped.

He told Sky Sports: “I do not think this is a certain win for Arsenal.

“Mikel Arteta will sit and read into the fact that they let in two against Everton. Bernd Leno gets Arsenal out of a lot of holes but he did slip up for the second goal.

“Joe Willock and Alexandre Lacazette will come in I think. You have to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in for his goals. Will Nicolas Pepe get another run? Probably. Does he deserve it? Probably not. I would probably look at Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe has struggled this season

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“The game against Manchester City has been postponed as they are in the Carabao Cup final, which means Arsenal can go at it and get into the last 16.

“You can still see the mess at the back, but Arteta will change things again. Sokratis Papastathopoulos may come in, while Hector Bellerin may drop out.

“You have to play Bukayo Saka at the back. This side has got its attacking side back and got its mojo back in that respect. Arsenal 3-1 Olympiakos.”





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