Arteta calls for more from Pepe after Dundalk win
Mikel Arteta calls for more from striker Nicolas Pepe after 3-0 victory over Dundalk in Europa League
Mikel Arteta has called on Nicolas Pepe to produce the goods on a more regular basis, after the Ivorian found the net in Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Dundalk in the Europa League.
The 25-year-old has been in and out of the Gunners’ starting line-up this season, as he struggles to find some form in front of goal, with Thursday’s strike just his second of the season in all competitions.
It was some finish from the frontman, who swivelled neatly before firing past the visiting goalkeeper with his weaker right foot from outside the penalty area.
It showed us a glimpse of the talent we all know he possesses, and Arteta was keen to emphasise the fact he wants to see more of that sort of quality from the former Lille man.
"He's not been first choice in all of the games at the moment but he's played a lot of moments," the Gunners boss said. "Some have been better than others.
"It's about finding the consistency, not through the games but during the games as well to be more incisive and do the right things on many occasions when he has to make the right decision on the pitch.
"It's nothing to do with his attitude. He's a player who takes risks, a very creative player - that's the most difficult thing in football, when the opposition know what you can do, how much they want to prevent the space, and creating situations from that is complicated.
"But sometimes it's the simple things, the deliveries, the amount of situations he's able to create or attract and then make the right decision to keep evolving that phase of play.
"For example, the finishing, the position inside the box, he has to be more consistent at it. We're working on it, and hopefully he will be doing it much more efficiently.”
It took until three minutes before half-time for Arsenal to break down a resolute Dundalk defence at the Emirates last night, before Eddie Nketiah pounced on a loose ball from a corner to give the Gunners the advantage.
Joe Willock slammed in a second two minutes later, as the hosts went into the interval two goals to the good, before Pepe got his goal just seconds after the restart to secure all three points.
Arteta made ten changes before the game with the Irish champions, including a debut for goalkeeper Alex Runarsson, with Granit Xhaka the only survivor from Sunday’s defeat to Leicester.
There was also a substitute appearance for Willian, as the Brazilian returned after missing the last two matches with a calf injury, and he was among those that impressed his manager in the comfortable home win.
“We missed him in the last couple of weeks, he had a very short pre-season because he was in quarantine so he needs a little bit of rhythm and start to understand what we are looking for from him,” Arteta said.
“He looked good, it was great to have some minutes in his legs, he’s back on track and it’s great to have him back.
“We have a large squad and I wanted to give opportunities to everybody. There are players that have been really patient and training well and here they showed that they are well prepared when we need them and they made things more difficult for me for selection.”
