Mikel Arteta believes Wolves performance was Nicolas Pepe's best

Nicolas Pepe is in his best run of form since joining Arsenal but still needs guidance to improve his game, claims manager Mikel Arteta. The club-record signing has struggled to make a lasting impression at the Emirates Stadium following his £72million arrival from Lille in August 2019. He has not been an automatic starter despite the price tag and Arteta has previously called on the Ivory Coast winger to add more consistency to his game.

 

Pepe now appears to be doing that – his fine strike in the 2-1 defeat at Wolves on Tuesday was his third goal in his last four Premier League starts. The 25-year-old has stood up at just the right time, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing three games as his mother suffered from "health

 issues".

 

Arteta felt Pepe's performance at Molineux was the best display he has seen from the player and called for him to maintain his high level of performance.

 

Asked about his display at Wolves, Arteta replied: "If you ask me personally what I think of the performance that he put in overall, in all the phases of the game,

 I think it is the best he has played.

 

“I don't know how much he wants it but he needs guidance” - Arteta on Pepe "And his contribution is the best that he has done and he needs to sustain that. When you have momentum in football, when you have to earn the right to play, then you cannot lose it.