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Former Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe recently talked about Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk and Manchester United winger Antony's forms. He stated that the while the duo were good players, they didn't perform well all the time and it could be down to their price tag.
While in a conversation with BBC, Pepe talked about how his hefty transfer fees affected his performance at Emirates. He claimed it also affected the fans' expectations of him and said:
"It wasn't easy at all. And the fans weren't happy with how I was performing. When I first joined, the fans weren't really judging my performances, they were judging the price tag. But I think I did some great things while at Arsenal. I don't regret my time there. But my transfer fee to the club was the highest one they'd signed, so they expected me to score in each match."
He added how that could also be the case with Mudryk and Antony:
"If Arsenal bought me for £20m, maybe it'd be different. It's not the player's fault. They don't ask for £100m or £90m. But that's how it is in the football world and it's something that people can't understand. There are also players like [Mykhailo] Mudryk and Antony who don't perform at their best all the time, and yet they're not bad players."
Pepe played 112 matches for Arsenal and ended up scoring 27 goals, while assisting 21 times. He had joined the Gunners for a then club-record £72 million from Lille.
Former Arsenal star not ruling out a return to the Premier League
Nicolas Pepe has not ruled out a return to the Premier League. He claimed that all serious offers would be considered and said:
"When we see a player playing well and scoring loads of goals, it's because he has all those things around him: a supportive coach, club, and adoring fans. So, I think that's essential for a player to play well. We listen to all offers, and then it's my representatives who'll let me know a club's real intentions, and if it's not a serious offer, I don't hear about it. Let's see what happens. But I'm not ruling out a return to England."
Pepe left the Emirates in 2023 and joined Trabonspor after a loan spell at Nice.
