Should Arsenal just pay Pepe and terminate his contract?

Arsenal’s Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe  finds himself training away from the main squad  amid speculation he is about to leave the club this summer.

In recent footage shared by Pepe himself, he can be seen training in a gym alongside the public, hinting at the uncertainty surrounding his future at the Emirates.

Pepe’s journey at Arsenal has been far from smooth since his high-profile £72million move from Lille in 2019. While offering a glimpse of his potential, the winger consistently struggles to justify his high price tag.

In 112 appearances for the Gunners, he managed 27 goals and 21 assists, but his overall impact has often fallen short of expectations. According to The Sun, Arsenal are reportedly considering terminating Pepe’s contract to free up squad space.

It appears manager Mikel Arteta does not see the Ivorian as an integral part of his plans for next season. As the rest of the Arsenal squad prepare for their pre-season tour of Los Angeles, Pepe’s situation remains in limbo.

Earlier this month, Pepe was linked with a possible move to the Saudi Pro League. However, negotiations reportedly collapsed when the player took too long to agree personal terms. It’s clear the winger’s future is in flux and Arsenal fans don’t know what lies ahead.

Arteta’s recent comments about Pepe’s lack of involvement in his plans. The Spain boss has revealed that the winger is currently recovering from an injury which is why he hasn’t made the squad. The manager said:

“At the moment he is recovering from an injury, that’s why he’s not here…he was on loan and of course we wanted to achieve a lot more than what we got on this loan. We have to wait and see when we come back, understand the plans and make the right decision for him,” Metro reportedly said.

In the right-wing pecking order, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson seem to have won Arteta’s favor over Pepe. Even players like Leandro Trossard and Fabio Vieira seem to be considered in the team selection ahead of the Ivorian.

It also doesn’t look like Arsenal can sign Pepe due to his inflated salary. So do you think it makes sense for Arsenal to just terminate his contract and pay him back?