“Former Arsenal Ace Claims Mikel Arteta Sabotaged His Career”
“Ex-Arsenal Star Blames Mikel Arteta for Destroying His Career”
Former Arsenal winger Nicolas Pepe, often criticized during his stint in North London, has accused Mikel Arteta of stalling his career development.
Pepe, who joined Arsenal in 2019 for a record £72 million fee from Lille, struggled to maintain a consistent place in the starting lineup after Arteta took charge. The 29-year-old parted ways with the club on a free transfer in 2023, having scored 27 goals in 119 appearances.
Reflecting on his time under Arteta, Pepe shared his frustrations in an interview with The Athletic:
“With Arteta, things started well, but over time, the confidence wasn’t there. My game time kept decreasing without explanation, and that created frustration. I’m not the type to sit on the bench week after week without a reason.”
Pepe also opened up about the immense pressure that came with his record-breaking transfer fee, describing it as unrealistic:
“When you’re bought for that much, everything else is overlooked. I was young, adapting to life outside France, and dealing with new challenges, but all that mattered to people was my performance on the pitch. They expected me to deliver 30, 35, even 40 goals a season, but only Messi and Ronaldo managed that. The fee Arsenal paid for me became a burden.”
Since leaving Arsenal, Pepe has been working on rebuilding his career and regaining confidence, free from the intense scrutiny he faced at his former club.
