'He's not responsible for the price the club paid for him': Mikel Arteta defends Arsenal's £72m flop Nicolas Pepe as Ivorian departs on loan but insists Gunners have been preparing for his exit for two months and a 'plan'

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal remain in the hunt for a new winger after the departure of club-record signing Nicolas Pepe.

Pepe, who first joined for £72million back in 2019, headed on loan to Nice this week as Arsenal continue to shed fringe players before next week’s deadline.

The club’s plan has long involved shifting one attacker before bringing a new one in. And though they fear being priced out of a move for Wolves’ Pedro Neto, Arteta insists the strategy hasn’t changed.

Mikel Arteta will look to bring in a replacement for Nicolas Pepe before next week's deadline

Nicolas Pepe secured a season-long loan to Nice this week, after struggling at The Emirates

‘If we can implement the plan that we have, we will try to do it,’ Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s visit of Fulham.