What Nicolas Pepe really thought of Mikel Arteta amid Premier League return links

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Arsenal will be hoping they can produce a performance of a lifetime as they bid to turn around their Champions League semi-final clash.

The Gunners trail PSG 1-0 following the first leg defeat at the Emirates Stadium as Ousmane Dembele is fit to play in the second leg, amid the match-winner picking up an injury in North London.

Arsenal have received a fitness boost of their own as both Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard were fit to train following knocks, whilst Riccardo Calafiori is also back from a knee injury.

Mikel Arteta will be hoping the togetherness of the Arsenal squad will be a factor in getting them over the line into the their first Champions League final since 2006 however, squad harmony has not always been the best at the club.

READ MORE: Patrick Vieira says Arsenal players will definitely do one thing if they win the Champions League

Nicolas Pepe revealed his true feelings towards Mikel Arteta

Nicolas Pepe was acquired for £72m under Unai Emery in what was Arsenal’s record signing back in the summer of 2019.

His career at the Gunners never really took off despite glimpses of promise and now Pepe is being linked with a Premier League return amid interest from Everton and Wolves in the Villareal winger.

Pepe’s relationship with Arteta diminished the longer the Ivorian’s time at the club went on and he revealed his true feelings towards the manager to The Athletic back in 2024.

When asked about the Gunners boss, Pepe stated: “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.”

Nicolas Pepe’s Arsenal career

Criticism of Pepe’s time at Arsenal was over the top and upon reflection, there were some extremely impressive performances and moments during his time in North London.

The price tag put Pepe under immense pressure and he was part of a side that was failing under Emery, meaning the spotlight shone on him even more than normal.

Darren Bent thinks Pepe was harshly treated and the Ivorian scored some crucial goals in runs to the Europa League semi-final and in Arsenal’s battle to qualify for the Champions League.

The frustration for fans was the consistency of Pepe, he was brilliant one week and anonymous the next however, there was no doubting he had the ability to produce some spectacular moments for the club.