Ex-Arsenal star reveals ‘tension’ he had with Mikel Arteta that led to transfer exit

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In the management career of Mikel Arteta, there have already been some tense moments with Arsenal players, some of which led to transfer exits.

The most infamous of which was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang falling out with Arteta, which led to him leaving for Barcelona in 2022.

Many questioned if it was the right call from the Arsenal manager, which has proven the case since he restored the team to the top.

A slightly more low-key tense point came between Arteta and Nicolas Pepe – the Arsenal record signing before Declan Rice joined for £105million in 2023.

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Nicolas Pepe discusses Arsenal and Mikel Arteta

After signing for £72million, plenty expected Pepe to hit the heights after some impressive displays at Lille in France.

While there were a few decent moments, Unai Emery’s dismissal from Arsenal seemingly impacted him and he found it tough to break into the team again under Arteta.

In an interview with The Athletic, he revealed: “With Arteta, it wasn’t… well, it was good at the start.

“After that, the confidence wasn’t really there. I got less and less game time, so there was some frustration.

“I’m not someone who likes being on the bench every week without justification or explanation. So yeah, that’s something that created some tension.”

That tension and desire to play naturally led to a loan to OGC Nice in 2022 and eventually a permanent switch to Trabzonsport in Turkey the following year.

Despite those struggles and his tough time at the Emirates Stadium, the 29-year-old is having something of a resurgence back in Europe.

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Where does Nicolas Pepe play now?

Since leaving Arsenal, Pepe played one year in Turkey before making the switch in the summer of 2024 to Villarreal on a free transfer.

The forward has been part of a team that is in the early stages of a Champions League push, sitting in the top four with hopes of competing at the very top.

While he is currently out of the team with injury, Pepe has been building himself back up with Villarreal so far.

At Villarreal, Pepe is looking to spend some of the remaining peak years of his career showing exactly what he is capable of.

The change in style in Spain could help as well, as he explained to The Athletic: “Spanish football is a lot calmer — more technical than England and France.

“That’s what suits me the best. I think you can see that out on the pitch. I have a good understanding with my teammates and I feel at ease here. I feel good.”