Nicolas Pepe and Willian have finally answered Ian Wright’s challenge at Arsenal


Arsenal legend Ian Wright made the call, Nicolas Pepe and Willian have finally answered it.

The duo were the Gunners’ best players against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, with the Ivory Coast delivering an inspired display, scoring to help complete the 3-1 comeback win having gone behind through a Youri Tielemans goal.

Meanwhile, Willian recorded multiple assists in arguably his best performance in an Arsenal shirt since the opening weekend of the Premier League season.

If the north London outfit are to have a strong finish to the season, the Brazilian and Pepe will be required to maintain this level of consistency between now and May.

Both players have been heavily criticised by fans and media alike this season, and Wright is no exception.

Speaking after Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round win over Newcastle United at the beginning of January – a match where Pepe and Willian underperformed in Wright’s view – the ex-striker called on the pair to step up.

“Very, very poor from [Pepe] today,” Wright told BBC Sport after the game. “Same with Willian. These are two players we needed a lot from, and we are just not getting it, to be honest.

“In the end, Mikel Arteta had to bring on his best guys because the guys he brought in, just didn’t do it in the first half.

“That was the opportunity for Newcastle to take advantage but they just didn’t have the quality.”

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It may have taken a while for Pepe and Willian to answer Wright’s call, it is safe to say they both stepped up at the King Power Stadium.

Aside from his goal, the former was impressive from start to finish against the Foxes and now has four goals in his last seven Premier League starts since the end of January.

Meanwhile, Willian has recorded back-to-back assists for the first time since joining Arsenal on a free transfer last summer, perhaps showing signs of justifying Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign him.





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