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Football London
Football London
Sport
Phil Spencer & Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Nicolas Pepe and when Arsenal's £72m club-record transfer could make his Gunners debut

The signing of Nicolas Pepe is all done and dusted, and Arsenal's supporters are very excited to see their new signing in action.

The winger confirmed his club-record £72million switch from French side Lille - a move which is certainly a signal of intent for the Gunners going into the new campaign.

With the Premier League season just over a week away, Unai Emery will be keen to see his new signing in action to assess his fitness levels and how he settles into the Arsenal squad.

If he's deemed fit enough, Nicolas Pepe could make his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt against Barcelona on Sunday.

It'll be the Gunners final pre-season match, and one in which the 22-year-old will be keen to impress.

Arsenal unveil new signing Nicolas Pepe (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Pepe has been on holiday following the Africa Cup of Nations so is short of fitness and it would therefore depend on Emery's decision as to whether to give him minutes at the Camp Nou.

Failing that, the 24-year-old would have a full week of training with his new teammates.

That would then place him in contention to face Newcastle United at St James' Park on the opening day of the new league campaign.

Whenever that first appearance takes place, Arsenal fans are going to love seeing him in action.

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