Arsenal record signing Nicolas Pepe has explained why he has not been able to deliver consistent performance for the team this season.
The former Lille winger has not been a starter at the Emirates Stadium so far this season as he has been handed bench roles behind Brazilian international Willian.
Manager Mikel Arteta made this obvious truth known to the Ivory Coast International that he cannot be a starter at the club and will continue to play behind the former Chelsea star because he is not consistent at the level he is demanded to be.
The 25-year-old has now come out to state that he has not been at the level he wants to be because of the bench role as he expressed his frustration with the situation at the Emirates Stadium.
“He (Arteta) wants me to be 100 per cent focused during the 90 minutes of the match. Afterwards, I see during training that I will be a substitute the following weekend.
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“But the coach speaks to me, he also has assistants who are there for that. But it is frustrating for any player to be on the bench.
“A super-sub role? The coach makes his choices. It’s up to me to show him that I don’t have that role.” Ivory Coast winger Pepe told French channel Canal Plus.
The 25-year-old is Arsenal’s record £72million signing with lots of expectations hanging on him. So far, he has been impressive in the Europa League and has been consistent but that is yet to be seen in the Premier League where he started just one match this season.
Since joining the North London outfit from the French Ligue 1 outfit, Nicolas Pepe has scored 11 goals in 54 appearances.
Arsenal are currently going through goal drought and the Spanish boss will only expect Nicolas Pepe to step up and score goals.
