Nicolas Pepe has moved from Lille to Arsenal. AFP
Nicolas Pepe has moved from Lille to Arsenal. AFP
Nicolas Pepe has moved from Lille to Arsenal. AFP
Nicolas Pepe has moved from Lille to Arsenal. AFP

Arsenal's record signing Nicolas Pepe banters with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette


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Nicolas Pepe finally became an Arsenal player on Thursday and the Ivorian immediately joked at the expense of teammates Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.

The 24 year old completed a club record deal of £72 million (Dh320.1m) to move from Lille.

The transfer had been heavily mooted and Pepe was clearly in boisterous mood after finally putting pen to paper.

He went on Instagram and put up a picture of himself in an Arsenal shirt, saluting with the words "@aubemeyang97 @lacazettealex Where are u?"

Arsenal confirmed the paperwork for the move, which is "subject to the completion of regulatory processes" had been finalised on Thursday, and Pepe would wear the No 19 shirt. The length of the deal was not announced, but is believed to be for five years.

Gunners head coach Unai Emery said: "Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe.

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Who finishes where in 2019-20?

  • 20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo
    20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo
  • 19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty
    19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty
  • 18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty
    18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty
  • 17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty
    17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty
  • 16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty
    16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty
  • 15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters
    15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters
  • 14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty
    14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty
  • 13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters
    13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters
  • 12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo
    12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo
  • 11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo
    11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo
  • 10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty
    10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty
  • 9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty
    9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty
  • 8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty
    8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty
  • 7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters
    7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters
  • 6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA
    6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA
  • 5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters
    5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters
  • 4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty
    4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty
  • 3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty
    3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty
  • 2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP
    2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP
  • 1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty
    1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty

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"Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I'm delighted he's joining.

"He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team."

Pepe scored 22 Ligue 1 goals last season and was linked with a host of clubs over the summer including Manchester United and Napoli.