Arteta tells £72m record signing Pepe he needs to show more consistency

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has challenged Nicolas Pepe to meet his rigorous demands if he wants to return to the Arsenal starting line-up.

The Ivorian winger is the Gunners' record signing having been signed for £72million from Lille last summer, but has failed to pin down a regular sport in the club's starting eleven since arriving in north London.

Pepe was dropped from the Gunners' line-up which lost to Manchester City on Wednesday, as teenage youngster Bukayo Saka started in the 22-year-old's usual right-wing role.

Speaking before Arsenal trip away to Brighton on Saturday, Arteta told Metro: 'It's clear that his [Pepe's] consistency has not been at the level he can produce,'

'He's the first to accept that. That's what I'm going to demand of a player of his level and calibre.

'He has to be producing every three days at the level that he can be.'

After scoring 22 Ligue 1 goals for Lille last season, Pepe's goalscoring contributions have dried up in his debut Premier League campaign.

The Ivorian has scored just four league goals since joining Arsenal, but has also added six assists in his 24 Premier League appearances to date.

Yet Arteta wants to see more than just goal contributions in Pepe's game, with the Arsenal head coach looking to see a better work rate from the winger.

Arteta added: 'He has to be a player that can make the difference, that is a threat, that generates fear in the opponent and gives us a big threat in the final third.

'His work rate has to be related as well with that kind of performance. He knows that.

'He's such a nice kid. He's trying really hard. You have to accept as well, the timing and the way he has adapted for the first year.

'A lot has happened for him and we have to understand that. He's willing and I'm sure we're going to get the best out of that. I'm convinced of that.'

The Spaniard recognises Pepe's potential, but has called on the 22-year-old to take more responsibility on the pitch as Arsenal look to challenge for a Champions League spot in the season run-in.

Arteta said: 'It's taking the flash moments into a consistent mode. That, for a creative wide player to do it, is a big task. Every detail has to be taken into account because it makes a huge difference.

'His mentality as well, his mindset has to all the time be like that; to win the game for the team.

'He's one of the players in the squad that can do it and must take the responsibility.'

Arsenal visit Brighton on Saturday looking to close the gap on the top-four to five points.

A win at the Amex Stadium would also move the Gunners three points behind Manchester United in fifth place, which could be enough to secure Champions League football for next season if Manchester City's ban from Europe is not overturned next month.