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Europa League | Round of 32
Feb 27, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Olympiacos

1-2

Aubameyang (113')
FT
(aet)
Abou Cisse (53'), El-Arabi (120')

Charlie Nicholas urges Mikel Arteta to drop Nicolas Pepe for Olympiacos clash

Charlie Nicholas urges Mikel Arteta to drop Nicolas Pepe
© Reuters
Former Arsenal player Charlie Nicholas urges Mikel Arteta to consider dropping Nicolas Pepe for the second leg of their Europa League last-32 clash with Olympiacos.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been urged to drop record signing Nicolas Pepe ahead of the Gunners' Europa League last 32 second-leg clash with Olympiacos on Thursday.

Pepe joined Arsenal from French outfit Lille for £72m last summer, but has struggled to make a lasting impression at the Emirates, contributing four goals and six assists in 23 Premier League appearances.

Alexandre Lacazette's goal gave Arteta's side a hard-fought 1-0 victory in the first leg, with Ivory Coast international Pepe only playing the final 15 minutes of the tie.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, pundit Charlie Nicholas believes that the 24-year-old should not start the second leg.

"I do not think this is a certain win for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta will sit and read into the fact that they let in two against Everton. Bernd Leno gets Arsenal out of a lot of holes but he did slip up for the second goal," Nicholas said.

"Joe Willock and Alexandre Lacazette will come in I think. You have to keep Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in for his goals. Will Nicolas Pepe get another run? Probably. Does he deserve it? Probably not. I would probably look at Gabriel Martinelli."

Pepe contributed the assist for Aubameyang's winner in Arsenal's 3-2 victory over Everton at the weekend.

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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring for Arsenal on December 1, 2019
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QWest Ham650115
QFreiburg640212
3Olympiacos62137
4Backa Topola60151

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QBrighton641113
QMarseille632111
3Ajax61235
4AEK Athens61144

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QRangers632111
QSparta Prague631210
3Betis63039
4Aris Limassol61144

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtalanta642014
QSporting Lisbon632111
3Sturm Graz61144
4Rakow61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool640212
QToulouse632111
3Union SG62228
4LASK61053

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QVillarreal641113
QRennes640212
3M. Haifa61235
4Panathinaikos61144

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QSlavia Prague650115
QRoma641113
3Servette61235
4Sheriff Tiraspol60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QB. Leverkusen660018
QQarabag631210
3Molde62137
4Hacken60060


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