Wow, wow, wow… Raul S has pulled off the shock signing of the summer, with Dave Ornstein announcing the Spaniard has reeled in one of the best talents in Ligue 1 with Nicolas Pépé.
I am SHOOK.
Pepe to Arsenal. Hahahahah
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) July 13, 2019
The above tweet is obviously a massive L on my part, but there are layers to my unprophetic words. Firstly, the fact we’ve managed to scrabble together €80m for a player is quite incredible. If there were a saying from this summer it’d be…
‘It’s all about the instalment plan, fam’
Secondly, I am HUGELY surprised that we were the only major club outside Napoli in for his talents. I know I have repeatedly defended what Arsenal is to players and managers around the world, but I didn’t think we were in that league of intrigue for names that had clubs like Paris and Liverpool sniffing. Just goes to show you, London is a huge pull, the full stadium is unique, the training ground is special, the chance to play must also be important, and the new guys must be able to sell a dream.
What a moment, I can’t remember Arsenal dropping a signing this major since we brought in Thierry Henry. He’s the right-winger of our dreams. The most exciting Ivorian since Yaya Toure stepped foot in Boreham Wood (Jokes Kolo, jokes). He scored 23 goals last season and gave 12 assists. He’s been making a contribution to Lille every 101 minutes, which is far more impressive than what Zaha has been doing at Palace over the past season. The best he’s mustered is a contribution every 152 in his best ever year last season.
The player himself is a joy to watch, for some reason I spent a lot of time watching Ligue 1 last year and he’s been one of the stand out guys. He’s powerfully built, standing at 6ft. I think he’s slightly lighter in frame than Zaha, but he’s electric on the ball. He has deft feet, he moves at pace, he’ll come deep, he’ll stretch teams and in front of goal last season he blew up.
We’ve struggled for years to add players with athleticism to our frontline, it’s great to see we’re finally moving in on players that are a huge issue for teams on the counter. When you have a shite defence like we do, the last thing we need is to be pressed into our own half because the only person chasing a long ball is Auba (who can be crowded out physically in big games).
Outside that, this has been a fucking great signing for the fans. This is a premium signing. I really think Zaha would have been good for us, but that could have gone the way of Welbeck, or it could have just been a move that was ok.
Pepe has a higher ceiling than Zaha, I think he’s better technically, and he’s 2 years younger. Our guy has resale value as well, which is super important when you look how we’re going to have to work the ins and outs moving forward.
It’ll also be good for the squad morale. No one wants to go back to preseason and have no new faces to look at. This will add the squad vibes and it’ll be just as fun for the players as it has been for the fans.
I know that a few of journos are saying the move favoured us because we were willing to give his agency team the commissions they wanted. It seems like the cost of football these days, but it’s dodgy all the same. We’ve lost out on lots of big names in the past because we’ve ignored the dark arts of the game, and now it looks like that’s where we’re playing them… but like most things in sport, you cease to care if you have a shiny new player rolling out in a redshirt.
I did think it was quite amusing that Raul and the exec leadership team spent an afternoon getting pounded at the fan Q&A for basically no reason… they could have just said we’d be signing Pepe this week and everyone would have shut the fuck up. It’s a bit like chewing out your partner for not doing anything for your birthday, then packing up your bags and leaving them, only find out their last-ditch attempt to meet you was a surprise birthday party with the Rolling Stones.
What I find particularly handsome about this summer is that the roof of the house has blown off and we’re out the front painting with a really nice Farrow and Ball shade of gray. Where are the defenders?!
Are we Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle? It’s looking that way… but hey, at least the players are exciting.
See you in the comments!
“I am an Arsenal player and have a contract until 2021.”
Translation : “I love money, London, and you are dreaming if you think that I don’t have the balls (the same than those I never show on the pitch) to fuck Arsenal all the way till the end of my contract.”
fsaf I watched that video yesterday. I always try not to get excited by Youtube highlights but boy… he looks something pretty special. On Sky they were saying that last year only 2 players in the top 5 leagues scored 20+ goals and had 10+ assists… Pepe and Leo Messi. And he’s been improving his numbers every season. His left foot finishes, the way he opens up his body and slots the ball into the bottom left so elegantly; it’s like watching a mirror image Henry. Hope we pull this one off, and he delivers everything he looks like he… Read more »
HL
Exactly
He’s going nowhere. Cunt. I still think it’s crass to boo your own player though. Not unless he’s done something to really deserve it
Like JT shagging his best mates mrs. I’d boo that
DM,
Exactly my man.
Guy is special. This will be a coup and the best transfer of the summer. No way he doesn’t fit in the team well. We have a big French group in our team and players coming in from Ligue Un as a whole fit really well in the EPL. I hope he keeps himself away of any injuries. Literally other than a serious injury I think that he’ll light the EPL on fire. Will be certainly adding him to my Fantasy Football Team. That’s for sure.
“Unlike many other left-footed creative attackers, Pepe does a lot of work off the ball and offers something of a defensive presence when out of possession, making 137 recoveries and contesting 83 aerial duels last season. For comparison, Angel Di Maria made 100 recoveries and attempted to win just two headers. Both offered plenty going forward but Pepe is more involved in all phases of play.” “Pepe’s physicality should help him adjust to the Premier League more quickly than many foreign imports but a lot will also depend on where Emery plays him. Many of Pepe’s goals from Ligue 1… Read more »
“I still don’t think Zidane is back for the long haul he thinks he is.”
I’ll admit I was shocked when he went back and I have a feeling it might not last either.
So the Poch will have the choice of ManU at Christmas or maybe Madrid next summer.
“Not a single Arsenal player ranked in the top 18 players for dribbles in the Premier League last season, with Alex Iwobi’s 98 dribbles putting him 19th in the rankings behind full-backs Ben Chilwell and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Wilfried Zaha topped the league with 249, the most of any player in Europe’s top five domestic leagues. Who was second? Nicolas Pepe. ” “Unless a cute flick around the corner came off or there was a turnover of possession, it was difficult for Arsenal to progress swiftly upfield and catch opposition at their most disorganised. The addition of Dani Ceballos in central… Read more »
I getting moist again!
We are signing Pepe not Pele.!
Crikey – you are an excitable bunch.
The Clown will have his Brain Scrambled by Halloween……433/352/334/1/9 523!!
(Does The Ivorian speak Spanglish?)
RH
The lack of dribbling ability in the squad and total lack of wide options in the squad was something most everyone, aside from those desperate to pretend the squad was actually decent enough, pointed out was a real issue.
Improved ball carrying, more width, more pace and more directness will help us out defensively as well.
RH
Just hope he can learn to not run into Auba…
Cesc reading that article makes me happy. There is a method to our recruitment this season. Now we are not being fed abstracts like super quality, the need has been identified and players are being sought specifically to fill that need
“RH Just hope he can learn to not run into Auba…”
Fingers crossed Freddie
RH,
Nice one.
It’s nice that finally the club is fixing problems that were obvious to us as fans. Which hasn’t been the case for over 10 years.
We are signing Pep, not Pépé!!
(Pedro has just cum)
Fsaf
I agree. The kid is mustard. He’s got everything needed to be a premier league giant
I cannot tell you how excited I am that he will be wearing the cannon
What a game changer
There’s only 3 times I can recall a transfer like this as a gooner
Henry
Campbell
Sanchez
Now Pepe
I fully expect the Pepe announcement to coincide with the unveiling of a new corporate sponsor.
Direct debit – the easier way to pay
Mustafi.
Aka Mustardi.
CG
“We are signing Pepe, not Pele”
Do you consider Pepe a better option than Zaha?
According to SSN
“Nicolas Pepe was the only player in Europe’s top five leagues to have 100+ shots, win 100+ fouls and complete 100+ take-ons in the league in 2018/19”
Receding,
You really are looking for argument.
Reread my comment, I never said that I expected Spurs to win the league.
In fact I started my comment with “ManCity will win the league.”. I also stated that I do not expect Liverpool to reach the same height.
However I do expect Spurs to have another good run in the Champion’s league and potentially win it. With NDombele, they have upgraded their midfield. With Sissoko and Wanyama they are solid, but not really good at transitioning from defense to attack. He will give them that.
“and potentially win it”
lol
Receding,
“Many of Pepe’s goals from Ligue 1 were the result of his advanced starting position during blistering counter-attacks ”
I find very funny that you are now regurgitate verbatim article from the Telegraph, but when I was making those exact same points you disagree and felt necessary to make snarky comment.
Next time before you jump on somebody else comments, you should make some research.
Valentin
When would you sell Pepe to ManU to raise funds to strengthen the squad – next summer or the summer after?
Marc,
You are just a xenophobic troll.
Valentin
Firstly how the hell am I a troll?
Secondly apart from using a joke from the Simpson’s how am I xenophobic?
You seem particularly sensitive on that issue?
Valentin
Would you accept £50 million for Pepe next summer?
We already won something this season, guys!!
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/11771144/who-has-the-best-201920-premier-league-home-kit
“Next time before you jump on somebody else comments, you should make some research.”
Valentin you were claiming he is only capable of playing one way and making a particular type of run, that assertion was what was rubbished not the fact he scored goals from counters, anyone with an eye let alone two can see that from his highlights reel
@Receding Hairline
The reason I still expect Pepe to fall through is because I’ve been an Arsenal fan for too long and have discovered that there are limitless ways that the club can crush our dreams and embarrass us.
Remember when we were signing Luis Suarez because we had met his buyout clause? Yeah, didn’t happen.
Remember when we were about to sign Alonso? Yeah, didn’t happen.
Remember the last time we signed a winger from Lille? “Nah, that Hazard guy is never worth twice as much as Gervinho, give us him instead”.
I’m just a pessimist now.
Real Madrid players recruitment continue to be done haphazard way on the whims of Perez who does not seem to agree with Zidane on the players going in and out.
Zidane may well throw the towell before the start of the season if he keeps getting overruled.
Biggles
There’s an elephant missing from the room though – Wenger being in charge of transfers.
“ManCity will win the league. However I am really worried that this year could be Spurs year. ” That was your comment Valentin You expect City to win the league but you are worried this might be Spurs year. Your only mention of the Champions league was in saying they got to the final last year so by “this could be Spurs year” anyone can be forgiven to assume you mean the league, nothing “snarky” there Also i have noticed you are one of those who consider any move or achievement by other clubs as “golden” but anything Arsenal, the… Read more »
“Remember when we were signing Luis Suarez because we had met his buyout clause? Yeah, didn’t happen.” We never reached an agreement with Liverpool for Suarez and no one ever claimed we did “Remember when we were about to sign Alonso? Yeah, didn’t happen.” Again no agreement was reached on that. You seem to be drawing your disappointments from transfer rumors “Remember the last time we signed a winger from Lille? “Nah, that Hazard guy is never worth twice as much as Gervinho, give us him instead”.” Unlike many i still don’t consider the Gervinho transfer a gaffe. He was… Read more »
Receding
I said the other day Valentin isn’t an Arsenal supporter he’s a Wenger supporter who’s now pissed off he was sacked.
He won’t respond but ask him when he started to support the club?
Some pretty bland kits this season. Watford should be higher than 16th!
Receding, Changing tune and lying to cover your track. I never said that he could play only one way. I said that if we buy a right winger counter attack specialist, we need to change our play to accommodate him. There is no point in buying him because he is quick and direct and play a slow build up. It’s like buying a Maserati to do off-roading. Ridiculous and pointless. I specifically said that a lot of the goals Pepe scored for Lille came from counter-attack and from run from right to left. Those are the goals that Aubameyang scores.… Read more »
“He won’t respond but ask him when he started to support the club?” Marc i don’t know when he started posting here but i think he made himself known here as a critical voice on Emery and Sanhelli and has felt the need to keep living up to that. Everything that happens at Arsenal under them he views from an angle of criticism yet accuses me of being “militant” in my defense of them or too taken in by Raul and Emery It’s actually cute he believes 100% he can run a football club and make better decisions than Raul… Read more »
Receding
Yeah but you’ve got to remember Sanllehi and Emery have replaced work that Wenger was doing. It’s not enough to slag off one of them.
I’ll bet you a cold beer on a warm day that if Wenger had turned up at a French club he’d be supporting them.
“Changing tune and lying to cover your track.I never said that he could play only one way.” Just because you lie a lot Valentin doesn’t mean everyone else does. You said Auba and Pepe always make identical runs all the time, Freddie even mockingly referred to that just a few minutes ago so he must be lying too. You are so full of yourself you are making a fool of yourself on here these days “I specifically said that a lot of the goals Pepe scored for Lille came from counter-attack and from run from right to left. Those are… Read more »
Valentin
It’s pretty ironic that you actually called me a troll earlier.
Marc,
I see that me purposely ignoring you is annoying you.
I started supporting Arsenal in 94, two years before Wenger joined.
What a shame you are again caught lying.
When people can’t refute argument against the new regime, they have to resort to name calling.
I am not a AKB, and I have said that he should have been moved on or curtail years ago. Gazidis should have behaved like a proper CEO and ask Wenger to concentrate on preparing the team. Instead he was in awe of him, and let him run amok.
“In my opinion, it would be more effective to have a front three of Zaha, Lacazette, Pepe than Iwobi, Aubameyang, Pepe. Especially as the last two will want to operate in the same zone: on the shoulder of the last defender.” Your opinion and you are entitled to it, doesn’t make it right. Just because CG and some posters think everything you say is gold does not mean your points should not be challenged There are many formations we can play with Auba and Pepe in the team, that fact seems to have escaped you. Aubameyang is an out and… Read more »
“When people can’t refute argument against the new regime, they have to resort to name calling.”
So what is your argument against the new regime this time?? That Pepe is an unnecessary signing??
Valentin
Give one example where I have lied on here? Ever.
I don’t blame Valentin with all his cries of “you are lying”
It is the go to defense for some on here when they want to wriggle out of things said earlier. English is the perfect language for backtracking
Weird that Gervinho was mentioned. If I’m not wrong the last time we brought 2 players from the French League in one window, was 2011/12. 8 years ago. Gervinho and Park. When it’s been really obvious that players usually have no problem acclimatizing to the EPL and we had Wenger, who’s obviosly French and had connections and was a huge name in France among players and football people, why the hell did we stop buying from France?! So many big name players have came through there or were born in France but came through another team. Legends in the Prem… Read more »
Receding, This is your usual tactic when you have been found out. Lying, accusing people of doing what you have just been caught doing, asking any troll to your defense, then insult people and disappear in a strop. It’s pathetic. I never said that both players are exactly the same. I said that their main threat is the same. Same running from the shoulder of the last defender from the right to the left. No difficult to understand that having two players making the same run will not result in twice the number of goals. Not difficult to understand either… Read more »
I don’t know why you’re allowing yourselves to be dragged into negative talk and arguments, some people just want to do that about the new regime for obvious reasons, but now is just the time to enjoy what it is happening.
To be fair there are some who are usually negative about the new regime on here who are enjoying it as much as anyone else. We’ve had it shit for so long at Arsenal why would you continue to be negative in positive moments?
If people want to snipe let them do it alone.
Valentin
“This is your usual tactic when you have been found out.
Lying, accusing people of doing what you have just been caught doing”
Pot and kettle springs to mind – you’ve called me both a liar and a troll today. Please supply evidence or a comment I’ve made to support your accusations.
Valentin, all good/great players are able to adapt to changing tactics, squad makeup and the opposition, both players should be capable of doing so.
Struggling to understand your point?
Valentin for crying out loud Aubameyang is an out and out striker, Nicolas Pepe is not. You are the only human on earth who believes both cannot play on the same team and i am meant to accept that simply because you are French??
Marc,
You make it too easy.
I said the other day Valentin isn’t an Arsenal supporter he’s a Wenger supporter who’s now pissed off he was sacked.
You already know that I supported Arsenal before Wenger joined and that I was pleased he was incharge anymore because he refuse to change with the time.
But again, because you have no argument against what I said, you just resort of calling me an AKB.
Insulting people because of their nationality, race, gender is not banter. It’s just bigoted prejudice trying to mask itself.
Like I said xenophobic troll.
“Receding,This is your usual tactic when you have been found out.
Lying, accusing people of doing what you have just been caught doing, asking any troll to your defense, then insult people and disappear in a strop. It’s pathetic.”
Your attempts to cast aspersions on my character is funny by the way, and pathetic too
Valentin wants us to believe that adding Pepe to our squad reduces the number of goals Aubameyang will score next season.
How does this make sense??
His answer they make the same runs.
Valentin
Troll – don’t be a cock how many trolls do you know who attend matches?
Xenophobic – I called you a cheese easting surrender monkey – it’s a joke from the Simpson’s and at the time you were saying that we should give in to Kos and let him go.
Liar – you can’t come up with anything.
Why bother?
Honestly.
Cesc
It’s like beating up a short arse – you shouldn’t do it but sometimes it’s just funny!
Marc
I just think if someone is spoiling for an argument at this moment in time then they are pretty sour as an individual and should just be left to jump and shout and ball their fists alone.
It’s been quite pleasant on here mainly because people who are fans of Arsenal are actually quite happy right now.
Cesc he wants us to believe that adding Pepe, a winger, to our squad will reduce the number of goals Aubameyang scores next season. The only reason for that assertion is that they “make identical runs”.
It will be negligent to allow someone post that here without taking him to task. He wants Aubameyang sold to bring in Zaha.
“Your attempts to cast aspersions on my character is funny by the way, and pathetic too“
Accurate portrayal. You lie, look for arguments, then deny that, dismiss the poster, and disappear.
You, and a few others, have a hard on for Valentin, everything he posts is subject of your “analysis”.
This place is pretty chill with you in your swamp.
Cesc
You know my feelings about the comments section on here.
As far as I’m concerned this is the most productive transfer window I can remember in years and the vast majority of Gooner’s are happy with what’s going on.
It’s going to be an interesting 10 days until the window closes and not just for us.
Lol…Valentin the person you have been screaming for is here to defend you now.
“This place is pretty chill with you in your swamp.”
This place has been very okay since morning, i am not the one campaigning for the our highest goal scorer last season to be sold to Man United.
Your pathetic attempts to turn posters here against me isn’t working so the earlier you focus on your “reminiscing” of music and whatever from the 70″s and 80’s the better for you Champagne Charlie
RH
It’s just spoiling for an argument.
Arsenal fans are absolutely ecstatic right now and you can see the plan.
A forward line of goal threats in Aubameyang, Lacazette, Pepe with the full backs in Bellerin and Tierney providing the width and overlapping. That could be fluid, fast and effective.
New post by the way
Marc
I’m excited and nervous for these last 10 days.
But in general I feel good about the club.
We’ve got a long way to go but we’re actually making an effort and importantly we’re recognizing our issues.
Cesc why the nervousness?
Frankly if as a unit we’re more effective, I don’t care if PEA doesn’t score as many goals as last season. We’ve needed a top class winger since Sanchez went off the boil and it looks like we’ll be getting one. I know some of us are getting a little carried away with expectations but if Tiernay comes in, I honestly think we could be pushing for third place. EL is much easier to deal with pre Xmas than CL and if Holding and Bellerin stay fit, our defence will be better than last year. Ceballos looks a baller and… Read more »
“Cesc why the nervousness?”
Probably comes from the defense
We have been very clever so far but we need to get the Tierney deal done and if possible bring in a center back. Mustafi causes nervousness for players and fans alike
A few thoughts and musings about the game yesterday. Nelson and willock are ready for the first team. Chambers should start over mustafi (hopefully he is sold, but really hate those that Boo him. No need for it) Love you jose Antonio Reyes! Often overlooked in the invincible season. RIP LACAS injury is thankfully not a bad one Cellabos can boss a midfield with torriera Finally some decent beer at the Emirates! Nketiah should stay until the Jan window. Other thoughts rattling around – Mavropanos /ESR needs to get fit and loaned out. Asano, elneny, Kos and Jenks need to… Read more »