Arsenal started their game against Chelsea on Sunday with a forward three of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and 20-year-old Reiss Nelson. That meant Nicolas Pepe started on the bench and that’s one decision many Gunners fans didn’t agree with Mikel Arteta on.
Nelson had started just four games and made three substitute appearances before the Chelsea game, and he’d not managed to contribute a goal or an assist in any of those games (via WhoScored). However, Pepe hasn’t had the most convincing of starts to his Arsenal career since his £72million move from Lille in the summer, scoring just two and assisting three in 16 appearances before Sunday.
However, many fans clearly believe Pepe hasn’t been given the opportunity to shine enough and deserved the chance to start against the Blues. The club’s official Twitter account posted a photo of their three starting forwards’ shirts, but many replied to show how annoyed they were that Pepe wasn’t included.
Let’s go, lads 👊#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/MNiTax25VY
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) 29 December 2019
You can see some of their reactions to the tweet below:
Would be nice to see Pepe get a little bit of respect.
— Saniul (@Saniul_) 29 December 2019
Should be pepe
— Dan° (@afcdaan) 29 December 2019
Why is Nelson starting ahead of pepe 😡😡
— stringerbell (@Tonynoworries) 29 December 2019
Pepe >>>> Nelson hth pic.twitter.com/gSB9o3I6np
— D¹⁰ 🇨🇴 (@ThiagoTimes) 29 December 2019
Shame Pepe is going to be a waster for us if he doesn’t get to play
— Marko (@MarkoVonBasten) 29 December 2019
Pepe robbed
— Yash (@Yashafc11) 29 December 2019
Arsenal fans, who would you have started in your forward line against Chelsea?
