Arsenal’s $93M Striker Nets Goal But Arteta Says He Must Be More Efficient [Watch]

Arsenal’s record signing Nicholas Pepe scored a wonderful goal in his side’s 3-0 win over Dundalk at home Thursday, but boss Mikel Arteta says the winger needs to be “more efficient” to earn more starts.

In the summer of 2019, Arsenal signed Pepe from Lillee in a club-record fee of $93 million, but the Ivory Coast national is yet to become a regular starter at the Emirates side.

"He's not been the first choice in all of the games at the moment but he's played a lot of moments. It's about finding consistency, not through the games but during the games as well to be more incisive, and do the right things on many occasions when he has to make the right decision on the pitch," Arteta was quoted by Sky Sports, as saying at a post-match interview.

"It's nothing to do with his attitude. He's a player who takes risks, a very creative player - that's the most difficult thing in football when the opposition know what you can do, how much they want to prevent the space, and creating situations from that is complicated."

The Arsenal boss, who has repeatedly backed Pepe publicly, still has a lot of faith in the 25-year-old player, saying the club is still working closely with the player and they are hopeful that he will evolve soon.

"But sometimes it's the simple things, the deliveries, the amount of situations he's able to create or attract and then make the right decision to keep evolving that phase of play. For example, the finishing, the position inside the box, he has to be more consistent at it," added Arteta in the same interview.

"We're working on it, and hopefully, he will be doing it much more efficiently."

Arsenal’s upcoming fixture is an away Premier League match against Manchester United Sunday, before Arteta’s side hosts Norwegian club, Molde, at home in a Europa League clash.