Report: 26-year-old Arsenal player ready to push to leave the Emirates and Arteta’s willing to sell him

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Nicolas Pepe is pushing to leave Arsenal this summer and Mikel Arteta is willing to let him go when the window opens.

Football.London report that the 26-year-old looks set for pastures new when the market reopens next month, with Arteta planning more surgery for his Gunners squad.

Pepe was linked with Europa League semi-finalists West Ham recently and it was reported that £25 million would be enough to land him.

Arsenal need increased attacking depth and firepower but Arteta has not been able to consistently get a tune out of Pepe.

Pepe pushing to leave Arsenal

The report reads: “Nicolas Pepe wants to leave Arsenal this summer and has instructed his agent to find him a new club.

“Pepe will assess his options in the summer and recently hired the services of a new agent as he looks to secure a move away.

“Pepe is one of several senior first team players who are seen as dispensable by Arteta, and offers are expected to be entertained for the Ivorian during the upcoming transfer window.”

Pepe is of course Arsenal’s record signing, arriving for a whopping £72 million (BBC Sport) in August 2019 under Unai Emery.

If Arteta could get anything close to that fee back in for Pepe, he would no doubt be overjoyed but £25 million feels like a realistic demand.

Even that would be a boost given how far Pepe’s stock has fallen since he arrived at Arsenal.

He just has not got to grips with the Premier League or gained the consistency to be a reliable attacking outlet for Arteta.

It is time to move on if a buyer can be found, and the report makes it clear all parties understand it makes sense for them.