Premier League 2019/20: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal - 5 talking points

#2 Nicolas Pépé debut

Nicolas Pepe made his Arsenal debut at St. James Park

Arsenal broke their transfer record this summer with the £72million acquisition of Nicolas Pépé. Having fought off the likes of Napoli and Liverpool, the Gunners were ecstatic to land the flashy winger and bolster their already star-studded attack. It’s said that the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain were also monitoring him throughout last season, but it was Arsenal’s record bid that sealed the deal.

The Ivorian came on in the 71st minute for another player trying to make their mark in the team, Reiss Nelson. Pépé’s first few touches were that of a man looking to adjust to the pace of the Premier League.

As he grew into the game, his silky and skillful nature began to shine through, as he shimmied and dummied his way past the powerless Newcastle players. In his 19 minutes on the pitch, the 24-year-old made 15 passes and attempted 1 take-on with the ball. The best is yet to come from the Ivorian winger.