EPL: Arteta reveals identity of ‘unhappy’ Arsenal player

Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has confirmed that Nicolas Pepe is unhappy at the club.

Arteta explained that the Ivory Coast international made his feelings clear to him in private that he is not happy at Arsenal.

Pepe has made just five Premier League starts so far this season.

The likes of Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are ahead of him in Arteta’s pecking order.

Pepe became Arsenal’s record signing in 2019 when he arrived in a £72 million deal from Lille.

But he has failed to live up to his price tag at the North London club despite scoring in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup quarter-final, a 5-1 win over Sunderland on Tuesday night.

Asked about Pepe’s situation in his post-match press conference after the game, Arteta said that Pepe has recently expressed his unhappiness at his lack of playing time at Arsenal.

“A player that doesn’t play if he’s happy we have a big problem,” Arteta said.

“Nico has not been happy and is asking for more minutes.

“This is the attitude we want from our players.”