Tag Archives: Nicolas Pepe

Poor defensive tactics: Arsenal must be regretting 2018 decision not to sign £25m rated ace

 

Arsenal ended their worst winless run in 42 years by coming from behind at half-time to beat West Ham 3-1 in the English Premier League on Monday with all Forecastr predictions on the counter all coming to light.

Arsenal’s nine-match winless streak looked set to reach 10 after a lifeless first half, in which the Gunners conceded to West Ham’s Angelo Ogbonna. They were booed off at the break.

Three goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a quick-fire nine minutes from the Gunners prompted West Ham fans to depart the Olympic Stadium in droves.

The win lifted Arsenal to ninth in the standings and ended an alarming run of form which cost Unai Emery his job.

The return to winning ways however, doesn’t mean all is finally well at the club with the Gunners defence already shipped in 24 goals this season – the fifth worst goals against in the Premier League this season after Newcastle United.

How the transfer failed

Back in January 2018 Arsenal failed in their attempts to sign West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans, according to The Sun. It was suggested at the time that the North London club refused to pay the club’s £25 million asking price for the centre-back.

At the end of that season, the Baggies were relegated. Evans, far too good to be plying his trade in the Championship, moved to Leicester City for a reported £3.5 million on a three-year-deal.

What now looks like a strange move is that the Gunners’ recruitment team didn’t return for Evans when his cost plummeted and they must be regretting the decision.

Leicester City are flying high in the Premier League this season. They sit second behind leaders Liverpool and the experienced centre-back has been instrumental in Brendan Rodgers’ team which have only concede 10 goals this season.

Since Evans signed terms at the King Power Stadium, the Gunners have struggled massively at the heart of defence. Presently, Arsenal are struggling to pair two defenders together who look capable of keeping a clean sheet.

Current market value

Given the Foxes current brilliant form under Rodgers, it’s even debatable as to whether Evans is perhaps worth more than the reported £25 million on current form.

While he has a few years left to perform at the top level, Evans has formed a formidable partnership with Caglar Soyuncu to make the duo one of the best defence in the Premier League.

Evans netted in a 4-1 win for the Foxes on Sunday against Aston Villa and WhoScored confirmed that he had an 86% pass success, won three aerial challenges, made nine clearances and also intercepted the ball on three occasions.

With the Gunners backline conceding goals for fun, the club fans must be wondering what might have been had they secured Evans signature in 2018.

Arsenal look a million miles away from silverware this season and it must really hurt that a former target of theirs is busy chasing a title with Leicester City.

All eyes would be on Freddie Ljunberg’s team this Thursday at they travelled all the way to Belgium to take on Standard Liege for their sixth Europa League Group stage games.

Europa League Predictions

As the Gunners are returning back to action Thursday night in Belgium, would you not one or two well-researched football predictions from Forecastr who are trusted by thousands of bettors for their accurate and back-to-back winning predictions.

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Assessed: Arsenal’s key rivals this season

Arsenal have finally kicked their transfer business with the marquee signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille.

It has been a slow transfer window for the Gunners but the signing of the Ivorian for a club-record fee of £72 million has captured the imagination of the fanbase. His performances for Lille were excellent and have given Unai Emery some excellent attacking options.

The problems at the back remain, however, even with the signing of £22 million defender William Saliba. The Frenchman will remain at St Etienne for the current campaign before joining the Gunners ready for the 2020-21 season.

Can Arsenal really challenge for the top four this season? The question should probably be phrased differently, given that Manchester City and Liverpool are almost certain to take two of those spots leaving Emery’s side to battle it out with Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea for the remaining two spaces.

We take a look at the business of those three teams in particular and assess whether it is they or the Gunners that have an advantage in the race for a Champions League spot.

Manchester United

You cannot talk about United this season without mentioning Harry Maguire. The former Sheffield United centre back has worked his way up through the football league to now become Manchester United’s most expensive defender in the club’s history at £80 million and the most expensive defender to play in the Premier League.

Maguire becomes United’s third signing of the season, following in the footsteps of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. With these additions the Red Devils will be expected to make a real tilt for the top four, however, there is still the small factor of both Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba who appear to be on the verge of leaving the club.

Advantage: Arsenal edge this one as the unrest of having two key players both wanting to leave is likely to need resolving before United can truly be taken seriously.

Chelsea

Two words will be music to the ears of Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal fans here… transfer embargo.

The Stamford Bridge club are not allowed to sign players, though they have added Mateo Kovacic because he was already registered to the team last season. He will be an important player as Frank Lampard looks to build success around his young players. Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi. The latter’s injury is, however, a serious blow.

Advantage: Again the Gunners take this one given Chelsea’s ban but underestimate Lampard at your peril as the former midfielder is likely to get a lot from his young players.

Tottenham

Spurs are currently 16/1 to win the title in Premier League betting markets and a lot of this will be down to their success in the Champions League last season.

With Pochettino determined to keep the club moving forward he knows that clearing the decks will allow some new additions to be brought in. Kieran Trippier’s exit to Atletico Madrid brought in some much-needed cash which was quickly spent on record signing Tanguay Ndombele.

The £53.8 million investment smashed the club transfer record as the French midfielder arrived from Lyon. Spurs also picked up Jack Clarke from Leeds but the youngster will return to Elland Road on loan this season.

Advantage: Neither side has a clear advantage in this one with both making one headline addition. The Gunners perhaps have more depth but it will be up to Emery to prove it.

With this view of the transfer market, it seems things are looking up for Arsenal in the upcoming season. Can they prove their mettle?

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