Arsenal prediction ends in tatters as Arteta axes mega-money transfer

Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe is set to leave the Emirates Stadium - four years on after being signed for a then-club record fee of £72million

Besiktas are closing in on the signing of forgotten Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe after the summer transfer window closed last week. That's according to L'Equipe, who have reported that the Ivorian winger has had a change of heart over joining the Turkish club.

Pepe's downfall led to the rise of Bukayo Saka's emergence in the senior team and the Ivorian's disasterous time at the Emirates Stadium is now set to come to an end. It has been some fall from grace for Pepe, who was compared to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry by Graeme Souness in February 2020 following a brilliant goal against Newcastle.

The Liverpool icon said on Sky Sports: "I think there is a real, real player in there. You think of their best ever player Thierry [Henry], he came here and didn't have a great first season, took some time, and I see Pepe being a star here, great feet, electric and still a baby."

Souness' prediction could not have been more wrong as Pepe was loaned out to OGC Nice last term - with the French club opting not to make his loan move permanent at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Arteta had hailed Pepe's attitude upon his return to Arsenal, but admitted his team had gone in a different direction.

The Spaniard said: "I think Nico has tried to deal with that in the best possible way. He is not responsible for the price that a club pays for him.

"He has tried everything, his attitude is just phenomenal. You have to meet the person because you have to love him for the way he is.

"But in terms of the decisions you have to make on the pitch and who you have to select, we have made other decisions and obviously that