Pepe blames lack of communication with Arteta for Arsenal struggles

Former Arsenal winger  Nicolas Pepe has opened up about his difficult tenure in North London, specifically highlighting a breakdown in communication with manager Mikel Arteta as a primary regret of his Premier League career.

The Ivory Coast international, who joined the Gunners for a then-club-record £72 million in 2019, provided a candid look at the friction that developed as his role diminished under Arteta.

Pepe cited a lack of dialogue with Arteta, explaining that the, “certain things” required by the coach, paired with inconsistent communication, caused frustration.

Despite scoring 27 goals in 112 games and helping win the 2020 FA Cup, his impact waned as Arteta’s tactical demands evolved.

Now with Villarreal, the 30-year-old contrasted his current, more transparent relationship with manager Marcelino to that in London.

By the end, under Mikel Arteta’s increasingly demanding system, he had effectively ceased to exist at the club.

“First, it’s different. These two managers are really different,” Pepe told Flashscore.

“We’ll start with Arteta, who is a coach who asks for certain things. Sometimes it was a bit tough for me, where from time to time we didn’t have this communication. And that’s what I regret the most, not having enough communication with him.

“Then with coach Marcelino, it’s the opposite, where I think we talk about everything, about nothing, football, not football, whatever,” he continued.

“I always say that I prefer a coach who is totally transparent with me, whether it’s the right or the wrong side. It allows me to move forward and progress.”

A loan to Nice followed, then a free transfer to Trabzonspor, before Villarreal picked him up in the summer of 2024.

The contrast between his relationship with Arteta and the one he now has with Marcelino’s coaching setup says everything.

Following a contract termination by Arsenal in 2023, Pepe has revived his career in Spain, recently securing the La Liga Player of the Month award for his performance in the 2025–26 season.