NICOLAS PEPE has been tipped to become a belated, feted Arsenal legend like Thierry Henry.
Ex-Liverpool hero Graeme Souness believes Pepe‘s goal, two assists and star-man showing in Sunday’s 4-0 rout of Newcastle suggest the £72million winger is finally adjusting to the Premier League.
Gunners’ boss Mikel Arteta was equally impressed, saying: ‘We just need consistency from him. The way he applied himself defensively he was top drawer, things he wasn’t doing in the past.”
And Sky Sports pundit Souness took that praise a step further, claiming “electric” Pepe could now come into his own – as Henry did after a quiet start in 1999.
Souey said: “I like him, I think there is a real, real player in there.
“If you think of their best ever player, Thierry Henry, coming here, didn’t have a great first year, took a bit of time and I see Pepe being a star here.
“He’s got great feet, electric and he’s a baby.”
Pepe was rated one of the Prem’s key arrivals in the summer after two years with Lille.
But instead he was in an out under Arteta’s predecessor Unai Amery.
Sunday was his biggest chance yet to wow Arteta – and the Ivorian delivered like never before this campaign.
The 24-year-old’s superb cross teed up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s opener on 54 minutes, neatly slotted the Gunners’ second goal and supplied sub Alexandre Lacazette’s stoppage-time goal.
Pepe will surely be inspired by comparisons to Henry – but a little daunted too if he looks at what the French World Cup winner achieved.
Henry’s eight-year spell brought 228 goals and 90 assists in 375 games for Arsenal.
Pepe has so far netted five times and created four goals from 27 appearances.
