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FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/Getty Images
Lille winger Nicolas Pepe has ruled out any chance of joining alleged admirers Arsenal in the January transfer window, robustly denying departure rumours despite his recent spiral in form.
Pepe enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy last term, netting 13 times in 36 appearances, but he told Telefoot (h/t Sport Witness, via Tashan Deniran-Alleyne of Football.London) he’s not interested in a winter exit: “No, I’m not leaving.”
The report also cited L’Equipe (h/t Mirror), which reported earlier in September that the Gunners were competing alongside Lyon, Sevilla and Real Betis for the 23-year-old.
The Ivory Cost international has scored five goals and recorded three assists in eight Ligue 1 outings this season, which puts him on the top shelf when it comes to the division’s attackers this term, per OptaJean:
OptaJean ⭐⭐ @OptaJean
9 – Only Neymar & Messi (9 each) have been involved in more goals than Nicolas Pépé (8 – 5 goals, 3 assists) in the top 5 leagues this season. TNT. https://t.co/6SXXy8rfo5
That being said, it appears as though Pepe is settled in Lille for the time being after enjoying his first season at the club, having only managed to net three times in 40 appearances for Angers.
The Gunners have been posting striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out wide of late and are short on natural wide options after the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left in recent years.
Pepe’s strike ratio at his previous club equated to 0.06 goals per game, a fraction of the 0.41 goals he’s averaging with his current outfit.
The winger’s best performance this season came in a 3-2 win over Amiens in September, when he bagged a match-winning hat-trick. More recently, he converted a penalty in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Marseille, as well as winning a second spot-kick for Jonathan Bamba to tuck home, via Goal:
Goal @goal
💪🏼 Nicolas Pepe shows why he's got big clubs clamouring over him. And Jonathan Bamba's not bad either! https://t.co/zgqdLlMY6x
Sport Witness also attested to L’Equipe‘s stellar rating of Pepe so far this season, trumping Paris Saint-Germain maestro Neymar in the ratings:
Sport Witness @Sport_Witness
L’Equipe’s Ligue 1 Team of the Week. Nicolas Pepe in there and he remains the highest rated player in the league this season, with Neymar just behind him. https://t.co/b2GE4n3F8u
Arsene Wenger may have left the Arsenal helm, but it appears the club can’t help but be associated with the most promising talent coming out of France.
Pepe appears to be enjoying his time under Lille coach Christopher Galtier for the time being, however, and is demonstrating laser focus in a bid to maintain his fast start to the season.
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