Ian McGarry says Nicolas Pepe does not approve of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal training

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Transfer expert Ian McGarry has told his Transfer Window podcast that sources at Arsenal have told him that Nicolas Pepe does not approve of Mikel Arteta’s training sessions – and there are question marks over the player’s mentality.

Pepe, 25, is struggling for game time at Arsenal and after finally gaining a Premier League start on Sunday – the Ivory Coast international headbutted Leeds defender Gjanni Alioski and received a red card. He could play on Thursday night, though.

The three-match ban will only prevent him from playing domestically, meaning he is free to face Norwegian side Molde on Thursday in the Europa League. However, Pepe’s problems do not end there.

McGarry has claimed that Pepe is clearly not making a good impression, especially with Arteta – who has already ostracised Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi for failing to adhere to his way of doing things. McGarry has spilt the beans on Pepe.

“I’ve been speaking to people at Arsenal over the last two or three days,” McGarry said. “He has not integrated into the club as they would have hoped. His attitude and mentality have been poor, in games and in training.

“He does not like or approve of Mikel Arteta’s training methods which are demanding and quite rigid, physically or mentally – something which he learned from Pep Guardiola. That has caused Pepe problems.”

TBR’s view – Pepe needs to get his head screwed back on

Clearly, it sounds like Pepe could be doing a lot more. Arsenal fans are very defensive of the ex-Lille winger but if he is to make something of his Arsenal career, then he at least needs to work harder in training and show Arteta he is ready to improve.

But while the player’s mentality and attitude is struggling to meet the required standard, so will his amount of game time. Pepe’s destiny is in his own hands, and he needs to start showing why he deserves a place at Arsenal.