Nicolas Pepe, an Arsenal striker, is hopeful about becoming a member of the Gunners' squad for the 2023-24 season after revealing why Mikel Arteta benched him last season.
Additionally, he stated that it is untrue to say that he and manager Mikel Arteta do not get along.
Pepe was acquired by the Gunners in August 2019 for a club-record £72 million transfer fee from LOSC Lille Metropole.
In 93 games while playing for Arteta, the Ivorian scored 23 goals and contributed 16 assists.
He played for just 681 minutes in the Premier League during the 2021–22 season, making it evident that he wasn't an everyday starter for the North London team.
The winger was given a buyout option when he was loaned to OGC Nice a year ago, but the French club chose not to use it.
The African added that he is now back at the Emirates Stadium and talking to the Colinterview YouTube channel.
Pepe said, “People say that he[Arteta] identified me as a player that wasn’t up to the level in his team, in his philosophy.
“It’s completely false. When he arrived, he had [Manchester] City’s philosophy. He had a squad that was filled with quality and backups in every position.
“When he spoke to me, he said he counted on me, he wanted me to do this or that, and you have to focus on that. He improved me in every way.
“He really believed in me. He said I had incredible potential, so we need to extract that potential.”
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