Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta has stated that Ivorian Africa Cup of Nations star, Nicolas Pepe will assist the north London side finish within the Premier League leading 4 clubs this season.

He hailed the winger for returning from the AFCON a ‘various gamer’ adding that the player can have a crucial role to play in the Gunners top-four charge.

Pepe delighted in an outstanding end to the 2020-21 season, scoring six times in six video games but has not discovered leading form in the present season.

He has actually scored just 2 goals for the Gunners this season however delighted in a brilliant campaign for Ivory Coast in last month’s AFCON, scoring two times in 4 video games.

Toolbox is presently in sixth place, 4 points behind fourth-place Manchester United but has 3 video games in hand to close the space.

“Since he has actually returned from AFCON I think I have seen a different Nico too,” Arteta stated throughout his press conference on Friday.

“I do not know what it is, probably he has realised the importance of completion of the season for him. He had a brilliant end of the season in 2015. He can reproduce that.

“I do not want to have a gamer like him resting on the bench and not using him and the minute I have chances, I want to provide him a possibility.

Toolbox invites Brentford at the Emirates on Saturday.

Pepe and his Ivorian teammates crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations in the round of sixteen, losing 5-4 in the charge shootout to Egypt.

Another Premier League star, Eric Bailly missed his spot-kick to send them packing out of the competition in Cameroon, killing their hopes of winning a 3rd AFCON champion.

It was a frustrating 5-4 defeat for the Elephants against Egypt with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah scoring the decider.