Thread by @CFCRole

Thread: Why Nicolas Pepe is top 3 RWs in the league

Before I start this thread, I HIGHLY recommend you guys have a look at my thread on Pepe I did before the season started. I will touch on it this thread so to stop confusion, check it out!

https://twitter.com/cfcrole/status/1157008888203567104

All stats used are from PL and CL or EL games depending on the player being analysed. They are also all P90 (per 90 minutes)

In this thread I will talk about:
- Attributes Pepe possesses and needs improving
- Pepe compared to other players (graphs and stats)
- How Pepe can elevate his game to the next level

Attributes Pepe possesses and needs improving:
Let’s start with Pepe’s dribbling first. It’s quite easily his best attribute. He completes 3.95 dribbles P90 with a success rate of 58.87%. Very impressive! Lets compare this to another dribble monster in Mahrez.

Mahrez produces 2.34 dribbles with a success rate of 60.98%. Although the fact I think Mahrez is the better dribbler, I think it is very impressive that Pepe has pretty much equaled or surpassed him statistically. He quite clearly is brilliant at it. One of the best at it.

Here are a couple of videos to showcase how easily he glides pass players with ease. The awareness he shows is also incredible to watch. He knows where each opposition player is at all times. This is by @golazofirst .Give him a follow!

This is by @SalibaSZN .Give him a follow!

He is a fantastic set piece specialist. He is an incredible freekick taker. This was showcased in the game as shown in the video. Pepe isn’t only a very very good penalty and freekick taker but also a incredible corner taker. I don’t hear enough about this if I am being honest.

Let’s have a look at Pepe’s creativity output this season. Pepe averages 1.9 key passes P90 which gives him an assist 0.38 times P90. With xA having him on 0.2 assists P90. If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t look too much into this. Most of the season he has been low on confidence.

This affects how often he plays risky passes meaning his assists/ key passes will be lower. I’m sure next season it’ll be much higher. Pepe is much better at playing the ball in dangerous areas with 1.24 passes into the penalty area P90 and 1.38 crosses P90.

Compare this with Mahrez’s 0.8 crosses P90 and Pulisic’s 0.2 P90 and you can see Pepe is a much better crosser as he also has a much higher success rate.
Whilst watching Pepe I see he has good linkup play as well as very good dribbling.

This usually means the player is very good at progressing the ball. Which is very true with Pepe. His linkup game is strong and when it’s matched with his dribbling it’s very very hard to get it off him. He is only dispossessed 2.4 times P90 which proves my point.

Pepe also very good at using his pace and drawing in the foul. He uses his quick feet and pace to draw defenders in. He gets fouled 1.2 times P90. Which again shows he is obviously quite skillful. I also want to touch how well he starts outside and comes into the attack space.

He showed this with his goal against Utd where he silently moves into a gap left in front of Utd’s goal and because he penetrates the space so early it leaves him unmarked to then score. He is definitely improving under Arteta.

Now let’s move to improvements! Let’s start with the obvious, his finishing and end product. Pepe has scored 6 goals and has 8 assists in 1891 minutes in both PL and EL. This gives him a goal improvement every 135 minutes. That’s just under a goal or an assist every 2 games.

You’d think it’d be worse with all the hate he gets but it’s not. It’s not too bad but still disappointing. His non penalty rate is 0.24 and xG has him at 0.2. No real sigh of poor finishing but for me the problem is timing.

Pepe shoots at the wrong times or doesn’t shoot at the right time. His decision making in the final phase of play is poor. Which is surprising given how good he was last season. This comes down to league quality and the fact there are more low block teams makes timing hard.

As for assists it stands at 0.38 P90 with xA having that at 0.2. Worrying? Yes but I understand due to lack of confidence like I explained above.

Another worry I have with Pepe is he is too one footed. This isn’t a massive problem but still a problem. He can also be too passive and uninterested at times but doubt it’ll happen a lot with Arteta in the dugout.

Pepe compared to other players (graphs and stats):
Here are a few graphs to compare him to other winger in the league.

How Pepe can elevate his game to the next level:
Pepe is a striker that needs to be fed. He can’t do everything by himself like an Eden Hazard. For me he needs some player that can linkup with him well. I’d suggest getting a better RB that’ll complement him way more.

Midfielders that will feed him the ball constantly like Partey. This is why I feel Arsenal HAVE TO get Partey. He adds so so much to that team most Arsenal fans don’t even realise. Partey’s longballs out wide are a joy and consistently find their man. Pepe would eat off this.

Arteta is one of the best managers for Pepe as well in my opinion. Adds discipline as well as being very tactically versatile. Look what he made player like Sane and Sterling into. Pepe is a beast that needs awaking and the man to do that is Arteta.

End of thread!

Likes and RTs appreciated!

Could you guys please suggest some Bundesliga players, I’ll be doing a few for the next couple of weeks!