Nicolas Pepe Can 'Really Improve' Arsenal, Unai Emery Says Amid Transfer Rumours

Nicolas Pepe isn't an Arsenal player yet, but Gunners head coach Unai Emery believes the Lille winger "can really improve" his squad, amid rumours the Ivory Coast international will move to north London in a transfer worth £72 million.

Emery spoke after watching Arsenal lose 2-1 to Pepe's Ligue 1 rivals Lyon at the Emirates Cup on Saturday. He addressed the speculation about Pepe and the Gunners' plans for the rest of the window, per Sam Dean of the Daily Telegraph:

"Pepe is a very good player, and also we are thinking only (about) players who really, really improve the squad and also give us some different conditions to improve. We are working in the last few weeks before the season starts with the first match against Newcastle to get the best team with the best players in our squad."

Emery also noted: "They (Arsenal's board) have different players on the table with the possibility that we can achieve their signature."

Reports emerged on Saturday Arsenal had agreed a deal with Lille and Pepe's representatives to sign the 24-year-old in the next few days, according to BBC Sport's David Ornstein.

There is no doubt Pepe would improve Arsenal after he enjoyed a spectacular 2018/19 campaign in the French top flight. He helped himself to 22 goals and contributed 11 assists to help Lille finish as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain.

Those numbers were the result of a special talent based on pace, perceptive movement and coolness in front of goal:

Pepe is a versatile forward who can keep defences in passive mode. He'll also allow Emery's team to play the more intense pressing game the Spaniard favours, while increasing the Gunners' potency on the break.

Trying to add Pepe means Arsenal are potentially edging toward completing a forward line most teams in Europe would envy:

Despite the presence of prolific duo Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as well as a shaky defence, Emery has made signing a winger a priority this summer.

It had taken Arsenal to bidding for Crystal Palace wide man Wilfried Zaha. The Eagles rebuffed an offer worth £40 million earlier this month, and Zaha is now a target for Everton, with the Toffees credited with making a bid of £55 million, per Sky Sports News.

While Pepe would be a younger alternative to 26-year-old Zaha, some Arsenal supporters may remain concerned about the club not investing to fix an obvious weakness at centre-back.

Emery's defence conceded 51 goals in the Premier League last season. There is little reason to believe the number will improve with Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos still likely to play big roles.

If Arsenal complete the deal for Pepe, it will help mask defensive shortcomings by making opposing teams less keen to commit numbers forward and leave space in behind.