Since the £72 million signing, Nicolas Pepe has simply not been able to match the expectations associated with the fee. It is not his fault that he cost the amount that Arsenal paid but when a Hale End graduate is starting over the Ivorian week-in week-out, having that level of investment on the bench each week serves little benefit to the club or player.
Arsenal’s depth issues in their forward line are becoming increasingly clearer. The imminent departures of Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette, due to their contracts expiring in June, will leave just Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Folarin Balogun.
However, Aubameyang’s future is also uncertain after several disciplinary breaches have seen the captaincy taken away from him and no starts for the club since the 3-2 away loss at Manchester United.
Arsenal, therefore, are on the lookout for a striker and this January has seen a reported bid for Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic.
Even so, should the club secure a new forward and sell Aubameyang, this would leave just the singing and Balogun for next season. This has led many to question whether there is a need for two centre-forwards to be brought in ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
This is where Pepe comes in. football.london understands that the player will consider his options at the club should his situation not improve.
At present and with the form of Bukayo Saka, it appears there is little chance of the 26-year-old regaining a starting spot in the team.
Arsenal then have the opportunity to use the potential departure of Nicolas Pepe to solve two problems and simultaneously present simpler routes for further youth development.
The Gunners have been linked with two wide players in the lead up to the January window. Noa Lang of Club Brugge and Dejan Kulusevski of Juventus.
Both players have played on the wing, however, can also operate as centre forwards and have done so successfully. Kulusevski in particular thrived whilst in a starring role on loan at Parma but has played centrally for Sweden’s youth sides and Juventus.
Meanwhile, Lang has six goal contributions in seven appearances for Brugge this season playing in the middle.
It is not to say that Arsenal need to choose one of these two but purely that the wider players linked with the club have this versatile characteristic.
Signing a player of this ilk also opens the path for Folarin Balogun to get more opportunities as a striker next season in the first team. Were the club to sign two strikers, Balogun would continue as the third choice.
Instead, the new marquee signing would be the official number nine, whereas Balogun, the possible wide forward signing and Gabriel Martinelli would become potential support options.
This would provide variety, opportunity and balance to the team and further the good work that has already changed the minds of many Arsenal supporters to back the club's transfer decisions.
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