Four things we learned as Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe finds his feet

AP

Nicolas Pepe struck two brilliant free-kicks in the final 10 minutes as Arsenal twice came from behind to beat Vitoria 3-2.

The Portuguese side arrived in north London as massive underdogs and looking for a first European away win in 14 years.

However they twice took the lead, first through former Tottenham man Marcus Edwards and then striker Bruno Duarte, as the Gunners put in a below-par performance.

Arsenal, though, pulled off a dramatic comeback to remain top of Group F, with Gabriel Martinelli finding the net in the first-half and Pepe scoring two free-kicks in the final 10 minutes.

Standard Sport takes a look at some of the talking points from the Emirates...

In Pictures | Arsenal vs Vitoria | 24/10/2019

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Pepe finally comes of age

After splashing £72m on Pepe in the summer, Arsenal fans have been waiting for their club-record signing to deliver the goods. Finally on Thursday night, just when they needed him to, the Ivorian came of age. They were two stunning free-kicks that salvaged a win for Arsenal when they looked destined to lose at one point.

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Pepe has taken a fair amount of stick following his slow start to life in north London, but against Vitoria he showed what all the fuss is about. Often for foreign players it takes time to settle - a point Emery has made on more than one occasion. Well, on this evidence, Pepe has found his feet in England - and just when Arsenal needed him to.

Is this the end for Ozil at Arsenal?

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Even after his impassioned plea to the media, it always seemed unlikely Mesut Ozil would feature against Sheffield United on Monday. However this match against Vitoria in the Europa League felt like the perfect opportunity to bring the German back into the fold.

Unai Emery, though, snubbed the chance to recall the midfielder and instead he has made his stance more clear than ever before. It is obvious now that Ozil simply doesn’t have a future at Arsenal.

Being overlooked in the Premier League is one thing, but being left out of the match-day squad for a game against a side bottom of the Gunners’s Europa League group - and without a win in the competition so far - says it all. Ozil’s days at Arsenal look numbered.

Maitland-Niles’ future is at right-back and not midfield

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Ainsley Maitland-Niles gave an interview earlier this season where he started his positional preference going forward. “I'm a midfielder by trade, either central or on the wing, it's all the same to me,” he said.

However, on this evidence, the 22-year-old’s future must be at right-back and not in the middle of the park. Maitland-Niles was handed the chance to shine in central midfield against Vitoria, but he failed to take the opportunity.

Instead he was ponderous in possession and he was caught on the ball in the first-half as the visitors stormed away to score their second goal. Maitland-Niles was duly subbed at half-time and you wonder if his chances of playing midfield for Arsenal may be behind him now.

Martinelli pushing Saka for Premier League opportunities

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It was Bukayo Saka’s stunning display against Eintracht Frankfurt that earned him a place in Emery’s Premier League team, but now Martinelli is pushing him for that spot.

Like Saka, the Brazilian is building an impressive body of evidence in the Europa League and he deserves to be given a chance in the first team. Martinelli was one of the few bright sparks against Vitoria, finishing his goal with a lovely guided header.

The 18-year-old now has three goals in Europe, while his overall tally for Arsenal stands at five. He’s also chipped in with an assist too. If he keeps it up, there is no way Emery can overlook him for a start in the Premier League soon.

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