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| Nicolas PEPE of Nice during the UEFA Europa League Conference between Nice and Maccabi Tel Aviv at Allianz Riviera on August 25, 2022 in Nice, France. |
When Arsenal broke the
bank to buy Nicolas Pépé from Lille it was with the hope that he would lead the
London side back to the top of the Premier League.
So it is ironic that
the player signed for 80 million euros ($89 million) has left to join Nice on a
season-long loan, with Arsenal now atop the Premier League after a perfect
start.
That’s far from the
case for coach Lucien Favre’s Nice side, which has picked up only two points
from three games and is in 16th place ahead of Sunday’s home game against
unbeaten Marseille, which is third.
Favre’s side has
mustered only two goals so Pépé could be thrust straight into the starting
lineup at the Allianz Riviera stadium against the club’s bitter southern rival.
Last season’s encounter
was abandoned following fan violence.
Marseille refused to
restart that game after home fans threw projectiles and invaded the field.
Veteran Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet was hit on the back by an object and
Marseille players even confronted some of Nice’s Ultras.
Security has improved this
season so soccer — and perhaps Pépé’s arrival — should be the major talking
point on Sunday night.
When Pépé joined
Arsenal three years ago, following a career-high 22 league goals and 11 assists
with Lille, the fee well eclipsed the 55 million pounds ($67 million) spent on
striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Although Pépé did
reasonably well in his second season with the Gunners, netting 10 Premier
League goals and 16 goals in all competitions — even scoring two free kicks in
one European game — his overall return of 27 goals in 112 games fell well short
of the price tag paid.
Nice must help him get
his confidence back, and fans will hope he can show the undoubted talent that
prompted Arsenal’s huge splurge.
He was presented to the
fans on Thursday evening, wearing the home jersey and giving a thumbs up
shortly before the return leg in a playoff against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the
Europa Conference League.
The 27-year-old is
extremely fast and a skilful winger equally comfortable on either flank. But he
is at his most effective when cutting in from the right and using his left foot
to finish with low or curling shots. Under former Lille coach Marcelo Bielsa,
he also learned how to play as the main striker.
That could suit Favre
well.
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