{"id":438,"date":"2019-07-28T09:00:38","date_gmt":"2019-07-28T09:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/?p=438"},"modified":"2019-07-28T09:00:38","modified_gmt":"2019-07-28T09:00:38","slug":"nicholas-pepe-emirates-cup-is-no-coincidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/nicholas-pepe-emirates-cup-is-no-coincidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicholas Pepe-Emirates Cup Is No Coincidence"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_441\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-441\" class=\"wp-image-441 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/nicolas-pepe-lille_4534986.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/nicolas-pepe-lille_4534986.jpg 768w, https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/nicolas-pepe-lille_4534986-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-441\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Nicholas Pepe <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Call me cynical but the breaking news this Saturday, 36 hours before the Emirates Cup, that Nicholas Pepe is to sign for Arsenal strikes me as far from coincidental.<\/p>\n<p>It was only one week ago that Twitter was rife with news that ticket sales for the traditional, pre-season tournament were going poorly with empty seats galore. A week before that, the \u201cWe-Care-More-Than-You-Do\u201d lot launched their petition to great fanfare in the media forcing Josh Kroenke, for the first time ever, to publicly defend his family\u2019s ownership of the club. Last Thursday members of the Arsenal Supporters Trust were granted another opportunity, via the annual Q&amp;A, to publicly bash the management about the lack of new signings.<\/p>\n<p>This was the background to David Ornstein, Arsenal\u2019s favorite mouthpiece, to once again scoop his peers in mainstream media.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Arsenal have reached an agreement with Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe for ~\u20ac80m, paid by instalments to fit #AFC budget. 5yr deal, agent agreement still needed but set to be closed in next 24\/48hrs. Napoli also have agreement with #LOSC but agent rejected proposal.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Arsenal have reached an agreement with Lille to sign Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe for ~\u20ac80m, paid by instalments to fit <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFC<\/a> budget. 5yr deal, agent agreement still needed but set to be closed in next 24\/48hrs. Napoli also have agreement with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LOSC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LOSC<\/a> but agent rejected proposal<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/David_Ornstein\/status\/1155052728525164544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>If that was the plan then it immediately had the desired effect as Ornstein&#8217;s tweet triggered an overwhelmingly positive response. Within hours it was by far the most popular trending item on Twitter.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-439\" src=\"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Nicholas-Pepe-300x151.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Nicholas-Pepe-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Nicholas-Pepe-768x385.jpg 768w, https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Nicholas-Pepe.jpg 815w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t get me wrong, I am not panning the proposed deal. Pepe is\/was one of the most sought after wingers in Europe this summer. Unlike many tweeters, bloggers and podcasters, am not going to pretend I knew much about him prior to this. French football is no longer freely available on the internet since 2017. Until then one could see easily games live and recorded. Now if one wants to get some idea of a player, the main source is these dodgy 10 minute videos that are now <em>du jour<\/em> on YouTube. From what I have seen, he appears to be a talented player, who, if properly coached and bedded-in can succeed in the Premier League.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, am on record as being strenuously opposed to the signing of the over-priced and over-hyped Wilfried Zaha, a ball hog with far less end-product than the notorious Alexis Sanchez. I have urged the signing of someone of higher caliber. Pepe may well be the answer.<\/p>\n<p>But the timing of Ornstein\u2019s announcement seems awfully contrived by traditional Arsenal standards. There was a time when the club never said a peep to the BBC man or anybody else, for that matter, until the contract was signed, sealed and delivered.\u00a0 But in this case, Ornstein himself revealed the deal would take between 24-48 hours to be finalized and agent agreement is still needed. I have been around long enough to learn of deals supposedly in the bag for Arsenal hijacked at the last minute by clubs with deeper pockets (Michael Essien and Juan Mata come to mind). In this case tradition was brushed aside. You have to wonder why.<\/p>\n<p>Predictably Twitter is awash with Arsenal fans who never heard of Pepe until Ornstein\u2019s announcement, but now swear he is the second coming. Mel O\u2019Reilly\u2019s tweet is utterly sarcastic:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>I\u2019ve never seen him play &amp; I wouldn\u2019t know Nicolas Pepe if I got in a lift with him but I will be incandescent with rage if we don\u2019t sign him like.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I\u2019ve never seen him play &amp; I wouldn\u2019t know Nicolas Pepe if I got in a lift with him but I will be incandescent with rage if we don\u2019t sign him like.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mel (@MelOreilly1970) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MelOreilly1970\/status\/1155087225190780928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Some are so delighted they are already singing the praises of management:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Raul Sanllehi reminds me of David Dein. The kind of person we were missing for so long. And he has just started at Arsenal.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Raul Sanllehi reminds me of David Dein. The kind of person we were missing for so long. And he has just started at Arsenal<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; P\u2122 (@SemperFiArsenal) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SemperFiArsenal\/status\/1155069439840178178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Announce P\u00e9p\u00e9 and the banter era is forgiven. The 10-2 loss to Bayern, signing K\u00e4llstr\u00f6m to solve an injury crisis, losing Ramsey for free, Jesse Lingard dancing in The Emirates, William Gallas being our number 10, the RvP saga. All of it. Make it happen, please.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Announce P\u00e9p\u00e9 and the banter era is forgiven, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Arsenal<\/a>. The 10-2 loss to Bayern, signing K\u00e4llstr\u00f6m to solve an injury crisis, losing Ramsey for free, Jesse Lingard dancing in The Emirates, William Gallas being our number 10, the RvP saga. All of it. Make it happen, please.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Patrick Timmons (@PatrickTimmons1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PatrickTimmons1\/status\/1155057019499548677?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>But some voices are urging caution:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Emery really needs to get this right. He has got a well balanced midfield and forward options. But the build-up last season was a lot of times slow and predictable. That can be alleviated this season somewhat by the type of players he\u2019s brought &#8211; daring, aggressive.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Emery really needs to get this right. He has got a well balanced midfield and forward options. But the build-up last season was a lot of times slow and predictable. That can be alleviated this season somewhat by the type of players he\u2019s brought &#8211; daring, aggressive.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Arsenal Column (@ArsenalColumn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ArsenalColumn\/status\/1155110418718871553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Jumping the gun somewhat here (why the hell not) but do we believe that Emery will play Ceballos, \u00d6zil, P\u00e9p\u00e9, Aubameyang and Lacazette in the same starting 11? Highly unlikely I imagine. Probably a lot of rotation from game to game.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jumping the gun somewhat here (why the hell not) but do we believe that Emery will play Ceballos, \u00d6zil, P\u00e9p\u00e9, Aubameyang and Lacazette in the same starting 11? Highly unlikely I imagine. Probably a lot of rotation from game to game.<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Mean Lean (@arsenalvision) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/arsenalvision\/status\/1155188936299429888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 27, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It strikes me for the second year running Unai Emery cannot complain of the support he has received from the Kroenkes and the club to get Arsenal back in the champions league. This time last summer fans and the media were unanimous that the signings of Leno, Sakratis, Torreira, \u00a0Guendouzi and Lichsteiner, net \u00a369 million, would make Arsenal stronger and Emery would swiftly overcome the failings of Arsene Wenger. That didn\u2019t work out as easy as planned, did it.<\/p>\n<p>For the upcoming season he will have as reinforcements the already signed Martinelli, having on loan Ceballos, a tricky, skillful Real Madrid and Spanish national team midfielder and the imminent capture of a winger that will smash Arsenal\u2019s previous transfer record. Additionally Raul and Vinai did not rule out the signing of a center back at the Q&amp;A. Fans are over the moon with the announcements and management must be happy with the improved ticket sales starting with the Emirates Cup.<\/p>\n<p>Conditions are perfect for a more successful season than last. The executives are\u00a0 pulling all the strings at their disposal. Is there any reason why Emery cannot lead this Arsenal squad back to the champions league next year?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nicholas Pepe Call me cynical but the breaking news this Saturday, 36 hours before the Emirates Cup, that Nicholas Pepe is to sign for Arsenal strikes me as far from coincidental. It was only one week ago that Twitter was rife with news that ticket sales for the traditional, pre-season&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[25,26],"tags":[48,49,44,47,35],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=438"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":454,"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/438\/revisions\/454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uncensoredarsenal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}