Ex-Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has labelled £72million flop Nicolas Pepe as one of Arsenal’s worst-ever signings alongside Igors Stepanovs

Jermaine Pennant says Nicolas Pepe is one of Arsenal’s worst-ever signings (Image: Getty Images)

Former Arsenal winger Jermain Pennant has labelled Nicolas Pepe ‘one of the worst-ever Arsenal signings’.

Pepe, 28, joined the Gunners in 2019 from Lille in a club-record £72million deal after the Ivorian enjoyed a brilliant campaign in Ligue 1.

The flying winger scored 22 goals and registered 11 assists during the 2018/19 season for Lille, arriving in North London with a reputation to match his price tag.

But Pepe has fared miserably in Gunners’ colours, scoring just 27 times in all competitions in 112 games, and was shipped out on loan to Nice last season in a failed attempt to recapture his previous form in France.

After scoring just eight in 28 games last season for Nice, Pepe is seemingly surplus to requirements at Arsenal and likely to leave in a painfully cheap deal compared to the enormous fee they signed him for.

And the Ivorian has clearly failed to impress former Arsenal winger Pennant, who told Lord Ping, that he’s on par with calamity defender Igors Stepanovs.

Igors Stepanovs is regarded as one of Arsenal’s worst-ever signings (Image: Mark Leech Sports Photography)

Pennant said: “There have been some awful Arsenal signings down the years but because of the amount, how much he’s played and the performances then you have to say Pepe is one of the worst signings. I remember we bought Igors Stepanovs, he was a terrible signing but he was free.

“If you’re paying £72m you want something back, and it’s been nil. Put those together and he’s probably been one of Arsenal’s worst-ever signings.”

Jermaine Pennant playing for Arsenal in 2004 (Image: Getty Images)

Stepanovs is widely regarded as one of, if not the worst, signings in Arsenal’s recent history. The Latvian arrived from Skonto Riga on a free transfer but made just 31 appearances across three seasons at Highbury.

And Pepe’s failure to prove himself to be worth even a shadow of the fee that Arsenal paid for him, has now seen him put in the same bracket as the centre-back by his former teammate.

Pepe previously saw a £4m-per-year move to an unnamed Saudi Arabian side break down earlier on in the window according to CBS and the club moved on to other targets.