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Football London
Football London
Sport
Lee Wilmot

'Better than Willian' - Arsenal fans say the same thing as Nicolas Pepe wins award

Arsenal fans have sent a clear message to Mikel Arteta - start Nicolas Pepe.

The Gunners' club-record signing has played in seven of the Gunners' eight Premier League games this season, but has started just one - away at Manchester City.

The Ivorian forward has flattered to deceive during his Arsenal career so far since making the £72million move from Lille in 2019.

But he has shown glimpses of the quality that led to Arsenal splashing the cash on him last summer.

One of those glimpses was against Sheffield United at the beginning of October.

And for many Gunners supporters, that will feel like a ling time ago with defeats to Manchester City, Leicester and Aston Villas since then, with only a 1-0 triumph over Manchester United giving them anything to smile about since.

Pepe took a ball down the right, speeding away from his marker before cutting inside, driving into the box and firing a low shot past Aaron Ramsdale to make it 2-0 against Sheffield United, with Arsenal eventually winning the game 2-1.

And that strike won Arsenal's goal of the month award, as announced on the club's official Twitter page on Thursday evening.

But it led to a barrage of Arsenal supporters responding in the same way - that the Ivorian should be starting more often, and ahead of this summer's new signing Willian, who has been given the nod ahead of him more often than not this season.

What will Mikel Arteta do when the Premier League returns after the international break?

Will Pepe get his chance given the lacklustre 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa last time out?

It will be interesting to see if Arteta listens to the calls of the fans.

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