Alan Smith claims one Arsenal player can be "a problem" for Mikel Arteta

Alan Smith has claimed that Arsenal record signing winger Nicolas Pepe is a ‘problem’ for Gunners boss Mikel Arteta. Despite moments of brilliance, the 25-year-old has only scored nine goals in 51 appearances for the Gunners and is still struggling to cement a place in Arteta’s starting XI. Arsenal hero Smith believes his former club paid ‘far too much’ money for Pepe and says the £72m man is a ‘problem’ for Arteta. He told 101 Great Goals: "Well Nicolas Pepe is a problem in a way because he cost so much money. "To a certain extent you’re under a little bit of pressure to play him even if you don’t start him. He has disappointed. I was hoping in his second season that he would kick on. Clearly Arsenal paid far too much money for him. "Willian has been brought in who can play on the right-hand side although he is a much different player, but much more reliable. We’ve seen in little glimpses that he [Pepe] can be exciting, he can turn a game. "However, he’s got to bring more consistency to his game and I just hope that can happen in an Arsenal shirt." Source- Metro Join us on Telegram!

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