Former Arsenal club-record signing scores 1st goal for new club | OneFootball

Nicolas Pepe has scored his first goal for new club Villarreal, helping them to a 3-1 La Liga win over UD Las Palmas.

VILLARREAL, SPAIN: Nicolas Pepe of Villarreal CF celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Ilias Akhomach during the LaLiga match between Villarreal CF and UD Las Palmas at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 30, 2024. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s former club-record signing Nicolas Pepe now plays his football in Spain, moving to La Liga following a spell in Turkey with Trabzonspor last season.

Pepe joined Trabzonspor on a one-year deal while trying to find his feet after terminating his contract with Arsenal, but the two parties decided against making it a long-term stay.

The winger became a free agent again this summer, and Villarreal ultimately decided to pick him up.

VILLARREAL, SPAIN: Nicolas Pepe of Villarreal CF controls the ball whilst under pressure from Benito Ramirez of UD Las Palmas during the LaLiga match between Villarreal CF and UD Las Palmas at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 30, 2024. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Pepe made his debut from the bench against Atletico Madrid in August, then made his first start against Sevilla the following week. But it’s been a slow adaptation process, and the 29-year-old has only started two of the subsequent six games.

The good news for the player is that he made those two starts count.

The first was against Barcelona on September 22nd, and though Villarreal lost heavily, Pepe came out of the match with some credit.

The winger assisted his team’s only goal of the game, making a run in behind the defence before squaring for Ayoze Perez to finish.

VILLARREAL, SPAIN: Nicolas Pepe of Villarreal CF celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Ilias Akhomach during the LaLiga match between Villarreal CF and UD Las Palmas at Estadio de la Ceramica on September 30, 2024. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

Pepe then received another start against Las Palmas on Monday, and he scored the opening goal of the game after spinning onto his right foot and firing a shot into the net. You can watch the goal here or below from the timestamp 1:13.

Villarreal went on to win 3-1, and they’ll be pleased with the impact of the former Arsenal man in recent games.

The question now is whether Pepe has done enough to start Villarreal’s next game, away to Real Madrid.