"All is love, in fair and war" - The Nicolas Pepe Thread

Discussion in 'Arsenal' started by ArsenalJake, Aug 2, 2019.

  1. ArsenalJake

    ArsenalJake Member+

    Feb 11, 2013
    Charlotte
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thought I'd sneak a Pepe Le Pew quote in the title, as the French master of creepy cartoon love is probably more qualified than I am to start this tread.

    However, given that I may be in need of a new avatar soon, I can honestly say, Señor Pepe is on the short list.

    I'm hoping to catch a glimpse of him Sunday if Arsenal Player will be airing the game vs. Barcelona (I have not heard one way or the other if this is happening).

    Here's to our lightening quick, marquee signing of the season!
     
  2. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #2 NorthBank, Aug 2, 2019
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2019
    Good job Jake in starting this thread! Hopefully we'll need another new thread for a new defender in the next few days. (also someone should start a Ceballos thread)

    And great to bring in a Pepe Le Pew reference!!

    And YES! you must change your avatar. Even if we can't sell him and he stays in the squad, his reputation is forever tarnished. Honestly I still can't believe he did that or allowed his agent to do that.

    As for catching a glimpse of Pepe at Barca, I don't think that match is on Arsenal Player. I posted in the summer tour thread that I only found that it's being broadcast on Premier Sports channel in UK, so I'm assuming a dodgy pirate stream is the best one can do. If I'm wrong about that, I'll be happy.

    Last but not least... WELCOME NICO!! We've needed you. Please enjoy your francophone partnerships with Auba & Laca. You come with a fantastic reputation in League 1, so please please rip it up in the Prem this season!!! :D
     
  3. thebigman

    thebigman Member+

    May 25, 2006
    Birmingham
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Can’t wait for the Newcastle game
     
  4. ArsenalJake

    ArsenalJake Member+

    Feb 11, 2013
    Charlotte
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pepe has to start at Anfield, alongside Laca and Auba, no?
     
  5. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    IDK. Having joined us late, he missed our pre-season (and perhaps Lille's too) so he was reportedly a bit out of shape. And he's not exactly lit it up like Ceballos did last game.

    From a PR point of view I'm sure they'd love to put him in the XI, but I don't think Emery's the kind to rush someone for that reason. So I wouldn't be surprised to see him as a 2nd half sub.
     
  6. thebigman

    thebigman Member+

    May 25, 2006
    Birmingham
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Rather him than mikhi

    Either way, we are about to get bummed
     
  7. casoccerdad47

    casoccerdad47 Member+

    Mar 31, 2006
    I was actually at least as impressed with Pepe as I was with Ceballos. He's extremely quick and was beating players with his first touch. In addition in his 45 minutes he had as many key passes and completed as many dribbles as Ceballos did.
     
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  8. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hmm. My eye test, as well as most of the pundits who commented on this, seemed to say Nico had an OK half, whilst Dani had a GREAT game.

    Dani seemed to have a bigger impact on shots & goals. Plus his game may be more multi-dimensional, both offensively AND defensively. Maybe that's what impressed so many of us.

    In any case, I don't think we're seeing the "Full Pepe" yet, and he's only had extended cameos so far. So expectations are pretty high that more and more he will impress and impact.
     
  9. casoccerdad47

    casoccerdad47 Member+

    Mar 31, 2006
    Everyone loves a fancy dribbler. Pepe was every bit as impressive as Ceballos. Ceballos was given man of the match for his two assists. His assists were scrapers assists. His corner was deflected before it fell to Lacazette and Aubameyang happened to be in the right place when Ceballos toe poked the ball away from the Burnley player. I give him lots of credit for being a scrapper. But early in the second half Pepe had a bueatiful penetrating pass to Aubameyang at the penalty spot that should have ended up in the back of the net. For me, that pass was more impressive than either of Ceballos' assists.
     
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  10. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Pepe had a great game yesterday whilst Ceballos was far from that.

    Ah, tides.

    I guess as long as they don't have stinkers at the same time, we're doing pretty well. And I guess, if it's like dice-rolling, we have roughly a 75% chance of that being the case. :)
     
  11. yossarian

    yossarian Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 16, 1999
    Big City Blinking
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hmm. Probably just a semantics argument, but I'd say he had a good match. A great one would've entailed finishing that really good chance right before the Scousers scored. But the potential is certainly there, and I'm excited to see what he can do once fully fit and integrated into the squad.

    Ceballos wasn't great but I'd say that was true for our entire midfield. Willock didn't look out of place against tough opposition but if the plan was for him and Guendouzi to pressure Robertson and TAA, they didn't do a good job of it.
     
  12. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yup. I'd accept "good" or "great" to describe his day. I recall debating which word to use. I think I went with great, in the context if his teammates' performances.

    As for Willock I thought he was pretty bright.
     
  13. Shen-O

    Shen-O Member+

    United States
    Jul 26, 2005
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I’m already so impressed with him
     
  14. MilesW

    MilesW Member+

    Aug 26, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I wish Pepe was like 2 or 3 years younger. Just seems to be in a weird place, age wise, from where Arsenal are and where they're hopefully going.
     
  15. casoccerdad47

    casoccerdad47 Member+

    Mar 31, 2006
    ?? He's 24
     
  16. NorthBank

    NorthBank Member+

    Arsenal; NYRB
    United States
    Mar 29, 2006
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Huh? He's 24. Coming into his prime years.

    Do you think we'll need him more in 4 years than we do now?
     
  17. MilesW

    MilesW Member+

    Aug 26, 2010
    Chicago, IL
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't really know what i'am talking about. Just seems most young guys that go for big money and then re sold for big money usually join a team around 20-21. I'm more so looking at future re-sale value I suppose. If he takes a few years to adjust and then has a few great years he's already 28-29 and doesn't have the value if he'd come to Arsenal at 21. But its probably stupid to look at the deal that way. Maybe i'm just looking too much at guys like Mbappe and Felix
     
  18. The Jitty Slitter

    The Jitty Slitter Moderator
    Staff Member

    Bayern München
    Germany
    Jul 23, 2004
    Fascist Hellscape
    Club:
    FC Sankt Pauli
    Nat'l Team:
    Belgium
    I am pretty meh on Pepe so far.

    I mean he has done OK and all, but for that money, he will have to deliver a fair bit (compare to what we paid for Auba)

    Hope he continues to develop.
     
  19. yossarian

    yossarian Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 16, 1999
    Big City Blinking
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good grief. Bergkamp, Henry, Pires all took 6-8 matches to start really contributing.
     
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  20. The Jitty Slitter

    The Jitty Slitter Moderator
    Staff Member

    Bayern München
    Germany
    Jul 23, 2004
    Fascist Hellscape
    Club:
    FC Sankt Pauli
    Nat'l Team:
    Belgium
    Happy to give him half a season

    I just didn't see much to be excited about thus far.

    My hunch is we paid far too much for him. But having an actual winger is good news, if you ignore price.
     
  21. casoccerdad47

    casoccerdad47 Member+

    Mar 31, 2006
    It's an inflationary market. Unless a player is an absolute bust it's difficult to judge whether a team overpaid for them based on prior markets.
     
  22. The Jitty Slitter

    The Jitty Slitter Moderator
    Staff Member

    Bayern München
    Germany
    Jul 23, 2004
    Fascist Hellscape
    Club:
    FC Sankt Pauli
    Nat'l Team:
    Belgium
    Agreed

    And you pay a huge premium to acquire the peak years
     
  23. mebeSajid

    mebeSajid Member+

    Feb 16, 2009
    Atlanta, GA
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Something interesting (sorry @thebigman ):

    Knutson said on one of his podcasts that tv revenue was flat lining, suggesting that transfer fees might not continue rising. Don't know what to make of that, but interesting point.
     
  24. The Jitty Slitter

    The Jitty Slitter Moderator
    Staff Member

    Bayern München
    Germany
    Jul 23, 2004
    Fascist Hellscape
    Club:
    FC Sankt Pauli
    Nat'l Team:
    Belgium
    domestic rev actually declined IIRC

    the global deal is likely topped out.
     
  25. thebigman

    thebigman Member+

    May 25, 2006
    Birmingham
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    So some of these fees will look awful
     

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