The 24-year-old was an unused substitute for the 0-0 draw against Burnley at the weekend as Mikel Arteta opted to bring on Eddie Nketiah ahead of the £72m summer signing
One of the big talking points from Arsenal's goalless draw with Burnley at the weekend was the absence of Nicolas Pepe.
The club record signing had started every single game in 2020 across all competitions ahead of the trip to Turf Moor, and was widely expected to keep his place in the starting line-up.
However, Mikel Arteta had other ideas as he dropped the Ivory Coast international in favour of the returning Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Perhaps the bigger surprise was that Pepe was overlooked despite the Gunners struggling to create many clear cut chances in the second half.
Lucas Torreira, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah were all chosen ahead of the 24-year-old which has garnered plenty of chatter from supporters and media alike.
But, Pepe has taken the decision in his stride.
Taking to social media for the first time since the game against the Clarets, the winger uploaded some images onto Instagram and was in a very relaxed mood ahead of the squad's warm weather training camp in Dubai.
"Dubai," he wrote on Instagram.
In addition, he uploaded a video onto his Instagram stories.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright is of the opinion that the club has a Pepe problem after seeing three separate head coaches drop the winger this season.
"You need more out of your creative players like [Mesut] Ozil, like Pepe, they spent a lot of money on him," Wright said on BBC 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "We saw with Unai Eemery he didn't quite like him, now we're seeing him not get on the pitch away at Burnley, it's a little bit of a worry because we have seen he has got ability, he has got something.
"People who have been bought for a lot of money are not performing.
"We definitely need more out of him, I'd like to see him play more and getting the creative players ramming the ball down his throat to get him taking on players.
"In Arsenal's current state in respect of money we cannot afford to pay that kind of money for somebody and three managers now are not really sold.
"That can't happen, we're not in that luxurious position. Whatever happens we've got to get a tune out of Pepe and quick.
"I don't want to move him on, I want him to understand what he means and what he was bought for. When I watch him I'm not seeing drive and energy and desire.
"Three managers have benched him. One left him out when we needed a goal, there's got to be something they're not seeing.
"I'm not seeing enough movement from him, not seeing enough hunger from him to want to make something happen and he needs to start doing that because questions are starting to be asked."
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