Paul Merson says rarely-used Arsenal player ‘can get the job done’ when called upon

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Arsenal legend Paul Merson believes Nicolas Pepe has what it takes to “get the job done” if Mikel Arteta picks him.

The Gunners have been preparing for their Premier League meeting with Brentford.

However, Arsenal will be missing Gabriel Martinelli due to a bizarre dismissal last week.

The Brazilian picked up a red card in the win at Wolves after getting two yellow cards in the same phase of play.

Arteta has promised talks with the PGMOL after Martinelli’s dismissal.

Nonetheless, he had had to plan for the game without the 20-year-old.

In his place, the two options to come in are Pepe and Emile Smith Rowe.

The likelihood is Smith Rowe will come in, due to his form and consistency since breaking into the first team.

“We need him at his best”

Meanwhile, Pepe has largely fallen out of favour under Arteta this season.

The £72million record signing hasn’t started a league game since the draw with Crystal Palace in October.

Nonetheless, Arteta appeared to lay down the gauntlet to Pepe in his pre-match press conference.

“We need him, we need him at his best,” football.london quotes him as saying.

“Everybody’s going to contribute because we are really short at this moment and we need it.”

“They should be able to cope”

Merson, writing on Sportskeeda, acknowledged that Pepe “hasn’t been great”, but feels he can still make an impact.

As for Arsenal’s front three, I think Alexandre Lacazette will play with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe either side of him.

“Gabriel Martinelli getting sent off against Wolves is a massive blow for them, but I think they should be able to cope without him as they’ve got other options.

“Nicolas Pepe hasn’t been great, but he is another player who can get the job done in a game or two if he’s drafted into the team.”

Arteta could also potentially name Hale End star Omari Hutchinson in the squad after he took part in first-team training this week.