Michael Owen has labelled Nicolas Pepe early-season form as Arsenal's 'only big worry'.
The Gunners sit third in the Premier League table after eight matches, only one point behind second-place Manchester City.
However, their Ivory Coast summer acquisition has endured a slow start to life in the Premier League after registering only one goal and two assists in his first eight games for the club.
After a £72m outlay, many supporters and sections of the media were hoping to see a little bit more from the ex-Lille winger.
Pepe hit 22 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 last season, statistics that put him alongside some of Europe's most deadly attackers.
With that in mind, most have put his low-key start to life in north London as part of an adaptation period for the 23-year-old.
Indeed, Owen believes that Pepe deserves the benefit of the doubt, however, he has insisted that if his poor form continues it could prove to be an issue for the Gunners.
“I think that’s the only big worry I think for Arsenal at the moment,” Owen told Premier League Productions.
“Things are going pretty well, in the league they are chugging along, in Europe they’re doing fine.
“But [Pepe] was a massive outlay, you’re expecting or almost wanting a guarantee of performance for that type of money.
“It hasn’t happened yet but we all saw him in France, he’s a terrific player.
“It might take him a little bit of time, let’s give him the benefit of the doubt at the minute.”
