The Gunners made the Ivory Coast international their club-record signing over the summer, with a deal done without Champions League football to offer
He has come a long way in a short space of time, having been gracing the third tier in France at Orleans in 2015-16, but insists he is unfazed by the money and pressure which now surrounds him.
Pepe told Canal Football Club: “It is pleasant and flattering, but it is not me who stumped up that amount.
“It is flattering, but I am not thinking about that at all. I came to Arsenal because I am ambitious, to win titles, that’s why I came.
“Me, personally, I am dealing with it normally, my brother, my friends, they might go ‘It’s €80m’, but for me it was normal.
“For them it is like what the hell, I was at Angers, I played at Orleans and for them to see €80m, it is crazy for them.
“I was also surprised too, because I’ve come some way, so it is a source of pride for me. It is something that I will quickly put to one side and concentrate on football.”
Pepe is adamant he made the right call, saying: “He [Lille boss Christophe Galtier] imagined me at Bayern, in terms of what he said, for me it was a decision that might surprise people, because it is not a club that is in the Champions’ League, but it is also a club with a lot of ambition, we are playing the Europa League which is still a European competition. We want to win it.
“The coach [Unai Emery] is used to this competition, he has already won it with Sevilla, last year they were in the final. The aim is to do better and therefore win this competition.”.