Nicolas Pépé is delighted to be back in Ligue 1 Uber Eats after sealing his season-long loan from to OGC Nice to Arsenal.
Pépé burst onto the scene with LOSC, and plundered 22 goals and 11 assists in 38 league games in his final season before joining Arsenal for a club record fee in the summer of 2019.
Although he won the FA Cup with Arsenal in 2020, Pépé gradually lost his place under Mikel Arteta, and was allowed to return to France on loan - although there is no option to buy the 27-year-old.
"Because of the sporting project which is very ambitious with young players," Pépé answered when asked by Nice's official website why he chose les Aiglons.
"I don't see it as a step backwards. It's also to get back to enjoying myself, with the trust of the coach and the president. Lucien Favre has a reputation for playing beautiful football, which suits me, so that was a factor in my choice."
Nice have enjoyed an impressive summer transfer window, also acquiring another former Arsenal man in Aaron Ramsey from Juventus as well as goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from Leicester. Pépé is looking forward to playing with them.
"[I came here] to get back to enjoying football," he continued. "I only want to think about football. The financial aspect was a secondary concern."
Pépé could make his Nice debut on Sunday when they welcome Olympique de Marseille to the Côte d'Azur.
Photo credit: OGC Nice
