- Nicolas Pepe has struggled to impress for Arsenal this season underneath Mikel Arteta
- The outcast ahead began in opposition to Sunderland and scored inside the primary half
- However Paul Merson has tipped his outdated membership to look to promote the £72m man in January
- Nevertheless, he believes they might make £20-30m, a price decrease than his price ticket
Arsenal ahead Nicolas Pepe is already within the final likelihood saloon on the membership, based on Paul Merson - who has tipped them to dump their struggling star and take an enormous hit on his switch price.
Pepe arrived for an eye-watering £72million from Lille in 2019, a transfer which noticed them smash their switch report, however he has since did not hit the identical heights as his time in France and stays a supply of frustration for followers.
And as such, Merson believes his lack of consistency might spell the top of his time on the Emirates simply over two years since he was snapped up.
Questioned on the 26-year-old's fortunes forward of Arsenal's Carabao Cup conflict in opposition to Sunderland, the previous Arsenal star mentioned: 'I believe if they might promote him in January, they'd most likely promote him.
'For my part, I believe he would go and transfer on if he might. He simply hasn't been constant sufficient. Those in entrance of him have been constant.
'He may be an 8/10 or a 4/10. As a supervisor you simply need somebody who'll be a gradual seven, seven and a half.'
Pepe scored 10 targets within the Premier League final season in a promising begin underneath Mikel Arteta, however has struggled to make an affect over the course of this season.
Certainly, earlier than his look in opposition to League One outfit Sunderland, his final look got here greater than a month in the past - in opposition to Southampton.
His disappointing return this time period has seen him rating only one purpose, resulting in supporters and pundits to query whether or not the burden of stress has harm him.
Merson, nonetheless, has waved away this declare - and believes exorbitant value tags within the modern-day have little sway over the performances of gamers.
He added: 'Years in the past, if you bought purchased for a lorry load of cash, the stress was on. Nowadays, you possibly can flop and nobody says a phrase.
'Managers would lose their jobs on a giant signing, that does not occur anymore.
'They will most likely promote him for 20-30million and lose 30-40million on him, and nobody will say a dickie chook.
'For me, I hope he goes out and enjoys it as we speak. It is all about perspective. You are enjoying at Arsenal, that pitch is mustard.'
Arsenal boss Arteta has claimed Pepe's lack of minutes is nothing individual, as a substitute stating that the membership's absence from European competitions is responsible.
'It is with all of the gamers that they don't seem to be having sufficient minutes,' he mentioned.
'Clearly with the quantity of video games we've are having, there's not sufficient room for all these gamers.
'With Nico's state of affairs it is one thing comparable. I've highlighted on many events it is due to what I see day-after-day. That is with Nico as effectively.
'However he wants extra alternatives to point out what he can do and in the previous few video games, he hasn't had them.'
