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The signing of Nicolas Pepe last year gave Arsenal supporters hope of a more exciting future.
With no Premier League title since 2004 and heading into a third season without UEFA Champions League football, the £72 million club-record capture of Ivory Coast international Pepe was seen by many as a signal the club were becoming more ambitious in the transfer market.
Eight months on from that deal, though, Arsenal find themselves facing new difficulties.
This time it's not adapting to a new stadium or failing to deliver on the pitch that is changing the thinking —the club are feeling the financial impact of COVID-19.