Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media / Arsenal TV

Harri Burton

Wed 6 August 2025 18:51, UK

Nicolas Pepe appeared to quickly become the pantomime villain at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal welcomed Villarreal.

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The 30-year-old winger has struggled to find a permanent home since parting ways with the Gunners, having been loaned out to Nice before joining Trabzonspor and the Spanish side on free transfers.

Having arrived in North London on a record £72million deal [BBC Sport], there was huge expectation bearing down on his shoulders, and ultimately, the Ivory Coast international disappointed.

He notched 27 goals and 21 assists in 112 appearances during his time at the Emirates Stadium.

However, one of his most memorable at the ground will now be slotting an effort past David Raya to shush the home support in the friendly fixture between the two on Wednesday, 6 August.

He’d already received a lukewarm reception from his former fans, so opening the scoring in response will likely have been all the more satisfying.

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Speaking on Arsenal TV prior to the goal (6 August, 6:08pm), Perry Groves said: “Yeah, it was just the odd sort of, I wouldn’t say boos, but it was just disdain for Nicolas Pepe when he was on the ball.”

This came just minutes into the game, with the attacker only taking possession of the ball, though those voices only got louder in the 17th minute as the Gunners went a goal down.

Taking advantage of slack defending and miscommunication from Jakub Kiwior and Myles Lewis-Skelly, Pepe slotted home at the back post, though he remained respectful with a mooted celebration.

Etta Eyong doubled Villarreal’s lead just 17 minutes later before Christian Norgaard heading home at the back post for an exciting three-goal first-half.

(Credit: Imago)

Mikel Arteta is under pressure at Arsenal to lift silverware next season, with the Gunners waiting patiently since the 2019/20 FA Cup final against Chelsea all those years ago.

While Liverpool have been extremely active in the transfer market, signing Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, and Milos Kerkez, supporters in London are still expecting more from their team.

The signing of Viktor Gyokeres is the main reason for the belief, having arrived from Sporting CP last month after scoring 97 goals across all competitions in his last two seasons.

(Credit: Imago)

The additions of Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi are also major signings for the Gunners, having missed out on the Premier League title by one spot and the Champions League title.

Arteta’s side made it to the semi-finals before being knocked out by PSG, and the Spaniard will need to see more from his team if they are to lift a trophy during the 2025/26 campaign.

The manager’s future in North London likely depends on it, especially now with so much investment on the pitch and Andrea Berta there to help with transfers, so he no longer has excuses to hide behind.

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