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Arsenal slammed after Nicolas Pepe transfer and told Dani Ceballos makes them worse
ARSENAL are not contenders for the Premier League title this season despite the club-record signing of Nicolas Pepe, according to former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara.
Arsenal supporters are getting ‘carried away’ says pundit
Pepe joined Arsenal on Thursday from Lille for a fee of £72million.
The Ivory Coast winger was the second top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, only behind Paris Saint-Germain sensation Kylian Mbappe.
He also contributed 11 assists in the 38 league appearances he made.
However, O’Hara believes supporters are getting carried away if they think Pepe’s arrival makes Arsenal contenders for the Premier League title.
They’ve signed Ceballos from Real Madrid but they lost Ramsey and for me Ramsey was a big player for them
O’Hara also says the loan signing of Dani Ceballos is a downgrade on Aaron Ramsey, who left the Gunners for Juventus on a free transfer at the end of last season.
“Everyone’s getting a little bit carried away, saying it’s going to be their best transfer window and title shouts, and all that,” O’Hara said on talkSPORT.
“Look, Pepe’s a very good player, but he’s not proven in the Premier League.
“They’ve signed Ceballos from Real Madrid but they lost Ramsey and for me Ramsey was a big player for them.
“So all they’ve done is kind of lost one, brought one in. Yeah I agree [Ceballos for Ramsey weakens Arsenal], in my opinion too.
“I think he’s gone to a better club Ramsey in Juventus and he’s gone for ambition, where he wants to win trophies.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen at Arsenal.”
O’Hara says Pepe is not the type of signing Arsenal needed, especially with club captain Laurent Koscielny wanting to leave.
“I thought they needed to strengthen at the back,” he added.
“What happens? Koscielny wants to leave, and he’s their captain, didn’t go on a pre-season tour with them.
“So where do they stand? You have to build from the back.
“They need a left-back and they need a centre-half - and their club captain doesn’t want to be at the club.”