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Nicolas Pepe’s position in the Arsenal team is threatened by the arrival of Willian.
This is according to former Gunners forward Alan Smith, who says the Ivorian foreigner will have to “give a push” if he wants to “survive. “
Arsenal let Willian loose after confirming that he would be leaving Chelsea this month.
The Brazilian has put pen to paper on a three-year deal worth around £ 100,000 a week.
Smith believes the 32-year-old will step up Mikel Arteta’s attacking characteristics next season, but warned Pepe that he will have to roll up his sleeves to fall through the pecking order at the Emirates.
“One thing’s for sure, as a right-hander, his arrival raises immediate questions for Nicolas Pepe, who signed on an exorbitant this time last year,” Smith told Sky Sports.
“The Ivorian winger has been blowing hot and bloodless until now, which is rarely a wonderful quality in Arteta’s book. Undoubtedly talented, Pepe wants to get going if necessary, because Array, at least in the short term, Willian can bring knowledge and quality on that smart side. “
Arteta is extremely happy to have secured Willian on the line.
The Gunners coach told Arsenal Digital: “I think he is a player who can make a difference for us.
“We have been observing him for a few months, we had a transparent objective to the positions of attacking midfielder and winger [and] he is a player who gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in 3 or 4 more positions.
“In addition, he brings a lot of quality and everything we need, they are winners. He has the joy of winning almost everything in world football, but he still has the ambition to come here and bring the club in its place. “
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“It is many of his qualities [that appeal]. One is his ability to play in those tight spaces, his ability to play people through, to unlock, to drive with the ball and create overloads, he is a goal threat as well both in open play and with set pieces.
“Again, it is the character that I want, the kind of player that when things get difficult in the game that wants to take responsibility, wants the ball and wants to win the game for the team and I think it is going to be a really good lift for all the players as well in terms of the quality we are bringing to the squad.”
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