‘Sheer quality’, ‘confident’: BBC pundit hails £100k-a-week Arsenal man and 24-year-old teammate

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Arsenal duo Nicolas Pepe and Dani Ceballos have been praised by BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown as Mikel Arteta’s Gunners triumphed at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The North Londoners ran out 2-1 winners over Sheffield United in their Premier League clash, with Pepe and Bukayo Saka on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Saka opened the scoring on 61 minutes with a header from Hector Bellerin’s cross, and just three minutes later, Pepe – on as a substitute – fired low into the corner following a marauding run.

“An individual goal, he drove towards the edge of the area and he hits the ball nice and early across the keeper,” Brown told BBC Sport (15:22). “It’s a fantastic run and finish. That’s sheer quality.

While Ceballos didn’t get on the scoresheet, he dictated play well and also weighed in with some good defensive contributions.

“Dani Ceballos has mopped up and got in some good areas,” said Brown (15:31).

“He’s looked confident and assured on the ball. It’s hard to just spot the simple ones at times but he’s done that well.”

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On a day of emphatic scorelines and major shocks, Arsenal’s narrow victory may not have made the main sports headlines, but the Gunners nonetheless got the job done.

Pepe’s starting spot may be under threat at present but with superb displays off the bench like the one on Sunday, the £100,000-a-week ace will be giving Arteta a good selection headache.

Ceballos, meanwhile, continues to produce great displays in midfield, highlighting just how important it was for the Gunners to re-sign the 24-year-old.