Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe proving Robert Pires wrong despite Wolves defeat

Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe is starting to prove Robert Pires wrong. Pires recently claimed the Ivory Coast international shouldn’t be at the club, insisting he’s not fit to wear the shirt. But though the Gunners lost 2-1 to Wolves on Tuesday, the forward was a shining light in the defeat.

Arsenal opened the scoring at Molineux through Pepe, with the Ivory Coast international slotting home after Bukayo Saka had seen an effort chalked off.

However, it wasn’t enough to give the visitors anything with the home side emerging victorious.

Ruben Neves scored from the spot after David Luiz’s dismissal, with the Brazil international receiving his marching orders after a foul on William Jose.

And the home side made the extra man count, with Joao Moutinho scoring the winner with a terrific drive from outside the area.

Bernd Leno was also sent off in the second half.

And while Arsenal will be disappointed with the result, Pepe is starting to show signs that he’s capable of justifying his huge £72million fee.

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“I think this starts, we mention the press that’s been so successful for this Arsenal team coming into the game.

“Here we see it, They haven’t got possession. They see it, they smell it, they go in and win the ball.

“Pepe himself wins it first then it’s about him from here on. He puts it through Semedo’s legs, a bit of trickery, a bit of luck at the end of it, shuffles his way through.

“Then pokes it through again and then this is just sublime, this finish. What a finish that is with his right foot.

“He’s starting to show glimpses of why they invested so heavily in him.”

Meanwhile, former Premier League referee Peter Walton insisted at the interval that Luiz had to be sent off.

“Intent doesn’t come into the law because you can’t read what’s in a player’s mind,” he said.

“So you go by his actions and his actions there were rather careless.

“In terms of bringing the player down, he doesn’t make an attempt on the ball – that’s the important thing.

“Had he made an attempt on the ball, it would’ve been a yellow card plus a penalty kick.

“But because he hasn’t made an attempt on the ball and the ball is not within playing distance, that becomes a red card.

“Craig Pawson has got no opportunity at all to issue a yellow – it has to be a red card and a penalty kick. From my memory, that’s about the third time that David Luiz has been sent off for a similar offence.

“You say players should learn and understand, maybe so.”

source: express.co.uk