Nicolas Pepe has almost been as good as Bukayo Saka this season after Arsenal released him

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Arsenal have made some big calls on some big name players in recent years.

Indeed, the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil were both released by the club before the end of their contracts under Mikel Arteta, while Nicolas Pepe was let go on a free transfer too after a club-record £72m deal to sign the Ivorian.

Pepe didn’t light up the Emirates in the way he was expected to, but since leaving Arsenal, he’s stepped things back up somewhat.

Of course, Pepe isn’t one of the best in the world as he was expected to be at one point, but, interestingly, his numbers this season aren’t all that far away from Bukayo Saka’s.

POV: You’re Mikel Arteta, are you dropping Bukayo Saka for Noni Madueke?

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Nicolas Pepe’s numbers compared to Bukayo Saka

Pepe scored a fantastic goal for Villarreal on Friday evening, and that took his tally for the season to four in La Liga.

Four goals isn’t a remarkable return, it must be said, but when you compare his numbers this term to Bukayo Saka, you do get an interesting result.

Discounting penalties, Pepe has the same number of goal contributions as Saka this season, while playing fewer minutes.

Does this mean that Pepe should still be at Arsenal? Of course it doesn’t, but it does showcase just how much Saka is underperforming at the moment.

We know what Saka is capable of – he once hit 16 goals in a Premier League season, while his career high in terms of assists in a season sits at 11 too.

However, he’s falling some way short of those numbers this season, and there is a case to be made that Saka should be dropped for Noni Madueke after his recent run of form.

Pepe isn’t the type of player you want to be compared to if you’re meant to be Arsenal’s star man, but, sadly, Saka is operating in that sort of arena at the moment.