When Nicolas Pepe’s name is mentioned, one number always looms large: £72 million. Arsenal’s record-breaking transfer fee in 2019 for the Ivorian winger brought with it monumental expectations and, ultimately, a burden that Pepe struggled to shake. Now, at Villarreal in La Liga, he’s carving out a new chapter in his career—one less overshadowed by The Number.

Pepe arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2019 as a 24-year-old with a burgeoning reputation after a stellar season at Lille, where he tallied 22 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1. Arsenal fans were excited. Highlight reels of his dribbling, flair, and attacking instinct promised fireworks.

But the enormous transfer fee set a level of expectation that, as Pepe himself admits, was impossible to meet. “When a club pays that much for you, the little details don’t matter,” he reflects. “Automatically, the first player to be criticised is the one that cost a lot of money.”

Pepe had bright moments at Arsenal, more than many may recall. He provided key assists, scored decisive goals, and even inspired a 3-2 comeback win in the Europa League against Vitoria Guimarães with two stunning free kicks. In his second season, he doubled his goal tally to 16 across all competitions and played a key role in Arsenal’s FA Cup victory in 2020.

But cracks began to show. Pepe’s relationship with manager Mikel Arteta became strained. His game time dwindled, and frustration grew. “At the start, it was good with Arteta,” Pepe says. “After that, the confidence wasn’t really there. I got less and less game time, so there was some frustration.”

That frustration was compounded by harsh criticism, particularly online. For Pepe, the scrutiny felt deeply personal. “You see what people think of you, and it affects you and your family,” he says. “When you’re not right mentally, it shows on the pitch. You start to doubt yourself, play it safe, and stop taking risks.”

Pepe admits that the transfer fee, more than his performances, shaped public perception. “You can claim it doesn’t get to you, but it does,” he says. “Today, players cost even more and don’t face the same criticism. Maybe I was just the first big transfer for Arsenal, and that made it different.”

After an underwhelming loan spell at Nice and a brief stint with Trabzonspor in Turkey, Pepe’s move to Villarreal this summer has given him a fresh opportunity. The calmer, more technical style of Spanish football suits his skill set. Despite a thigh injury that recently sidelined him, Pepe has shown glimpses of his old self and is optimistic about the months ahead.

“Spanish football is a lot calmer—more technical than England and France,” he explains. “That’s what suits me best. I feel good here. I have a good understanding with my team-mates, and I feel at ease.”

Under coach Marcelino García Toral, Villarreal have been a revelation this season, sitting fourth in La Liga with a game in hand. Pepe credits Marcelino’s meticulous approach and strong communication skills for creating a cohesive and ambitious team.

“For me, it’s just a pleasure, mentally, to be back out on the pitch, enjoying myself,” Pepe says. “That’s the main thing: having fun. All the rest—the statistics, the assists, the goals—will come naturally.”

Looking back, Pepe remains philosophical about his time at Arsenal. “I had some good moments,” he says. “A lot of those memories will stay with me.” But the weight of The Number still lingers.

“There was this relentlessness, as if people didn’t care about the adaptation process,” he reflects. “It was, ‘You have to perform, you have to perform.’ I think clubs now protect players who cost a lot more than I did. Arsenal did their best, but maybe they weren’t ready for that fee.”

Pepe also acknowledges that moving to Arsenal wasn’t just about the club—it was about the manager. Unai Emery’s hour-long phone call, conducted in French, left a deep impression on Pepe and was the deciding factor in his decision to join. But with Emery’s sacking two months into the season, the sense of stability Pepe hoped for quickly disappeared.

Now, at Villarreal, Pepe feels he is finally in an environment where he can thrive without the shadow of The Number hanging over him.

Pepe’s journey from Lille to Arsenal and now Villarreal has been a rollercoaster, but the Ivorian winger seems at peace with where he is.

“I feel like I’m back at the heart of the action,” he says. Villarreal offers him a platform to rediscover his joy and confidence, with less scrutiny and greater support.

While Arsenal may always represent unfulfilled potential, Pepe is focused on the present. His story isn’t over yet, and in Spain, the 28-year-old is determined to write a new, more positive chapter.