When Nicholas Pepe signed from Lille last August, expectations were huge.

Who recalls the surreal feeling of having signed one of Europe’s biggest prospects? I do.

We had finished outside of the Champions League and been badly beaten in the Europa League final. The mood around the club was anxious and pessimistic, as many Arsenal fans had many doubts about direction of the team under Unai Emery - concerns that were proven right in November when he was sacked for poor results.

Yet signing Pepe seemed like an absolute coup at the time - as Liverpool had also shown interest in the Ivorian.

It did feel like it had the potential to be the signing of the season. £72 million for Pepe is now the most Arsenal have ever spent on a player.

But Pepe's would have a very rocky start to his Arsenal career. 

We'll take a look at the three things Pepe needs to do to become essential to Mikel Arteta next season further down this article. 

But first, we'll reflect over Pepe's first season.

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After some promising appearances against Newcastle, Burnley and Spurs, Pepe played away at Liverpool in a two-man strikeforce alongside Pierre Emerick Aubameyang. He really impressed against the Champions of Europe, leaving Andy Robertson and Virgil Van Dijk, two of the best defenders in the world, for dead on multiple occasions.

Despite his many breaks into the opposition penalty box and many shots on target, Pepe could not find a goal. His first Arsenal goal would not come until Aston Villa in mid September, with a penalty in a 3-2 win at home. Yet Nico failed to find consistent goal scoring form, and with each sign of a progress came a step back, which saw Emery leaving Pepe on the bench for some games during a difficult period.

It was the belief of many fans that, although Pepe had yet to set the Premier League on fire, he had shown glimpses of a massive talent.

It was difficult for Pepe to form some consistency when he was not a consistent starter under Emery for the last few games of his tenure. Scoring two sensational free kicks in the last ten minutes of a Europa League tie to secure a victory, Pepe reminded us once again of his talent that had yet to be unlocked on a consistent basis. 

Pepe comes across as a very shy person, soft spoken and introverted, unlike his strike partners Alex Lacazette or Aubameyang who have taken on the role of the dynamic duo, the face of Arsenal on the pitch.

It was obvious from his time at Lille that he thrived in a counter attacking team, aided by lightning quick partners around him. He got 22 goals and 11 assists last season for Lille in that system. It’s definitely taken Pepe time to understand the intensity of the Premier League, as well as what is demanded off the ball from attackers - as became very evident when Mikel Arteta took charge of the team in December.

Arteta quickly improved the team in a variety of ways, especially in the defensive aspects of the game. However, Pepe was one of the slowest to understand the intensity Arteta required, as new managers demanded intelligent pressing and work off the ball for the full 90 minutes from his front three.

Pepe was again left on the bench for some games in Arteta’s first few months. Pepe seemed to get the message, as his pressing improved with time under Arteta, although he found it difficult to see out a full match at that intensity level.

Pepe has also improved in the attacking third, adapting to Arteta's passing patterns and his chemistry with his strike partners has improved. One area of concern for a time was Pepe's relationship with Hector Bellerin, as he did seem to click with the full back in an attacking sense. Bellerin was often conservative in his passes, with some of Pepe's brilliant runs into the final third going unnoticed.

It was in the run up to the FA Cup final, in my opinion, where Pepe finally came to life this season.

With a brilliant performance against Sheffield United in the quarter final, in which a he scored a penalty, and his setting up of a stunning team goal for Aubameyang in the unforgettable defensive masterclass against Man City in the semi final, Pepe finally looked to be getting comfortable in this Arsenal team.

And so it was to prove in the FA Cup final against Chelsea, Nico Pepe finally looked like he belonged. Constantly providing an option for Bellerin and his midfielders, running up and down the wing, putting in his best defensive display yet, even arriving just outside his own penalty box to win the ball or at least a foul, Pepe was amazing against our London rivals in our biggest game of the season.

No longer isolated on the touchline, cut off from his strike partners, Pepe was given more freedom to occupy central areas and looked to be a constant threat to Chelsea.

Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger looked completely hapless when they faced down the Ivorian. Notably praised by Arteta from the sidelines for his defensive work, Pepe lasted the full 100 minutes of the final, never looking to have lost interest and maintained his work rate throughout.

And of course, he provided the assist for Aubameyang's winning goal. 

Managing eight goals and 10 assists in what has been Arsenal's worst league campaign in 25 years, in a team that has had three different head coaches, that has struggled to make chances, while being put on the bench on numerous occasions, Nico Pepe has had a strong first season at Arsenal.

Most fans will never deny his pure talent, but many have grown frustrated by his inconsistency over several games. If Pepe can maintain the performance levels he showed in the run-in to the FA Cup final on a consistent basis, he will undoubtedly become one of the Premier League's best wingers.

At £72 million spent, Arsenal need this deal to work out and I firmly believe if he is surrounded by more quality, especially in midfield, Pepe can turn Supernova in the next leave campaign.

The key is to give him the ball more, get him more central, and to ensure he is not isolated on the touchline. Pepe has shown that the closer he is to goal. Our most creative player this season behind Bukayo Saka, Pepe can find good balls from many positions. If he has more attacking midfielders providing an option, on top of the runs of Aubameyang, he will rack up more assists. Let’s hope at least some of this issues our team has had with ball progression can be addressed this transfer window. 

This has been a big year for Nico Pepe, first arriving to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, as well as the birth of his first child, it is a very rare players that doesn’t need time to settle in. As he is our biggest signing ever, it only makes sense to provide him with ample opportunities to succeed. Simply put, Pepe needs better, more creative players beside him if he is to live up to his price tag. Pepe will likely be here after Aubameyang and Lacazette have gone.

Let’s hope that by then he will have earned his place as the new face of Arsenal's team. 

Here’s three things Pepe can do to boost his effectiveness for next season:

1 - Pepe needs his full back partner to over lap a lot more. Ainsley Maitland Niles was a lot better at this then Bellerin alongside Pepe, although Bellerin has improved with Pepe in recent weeks. Over lapping will just give Pepe more room to breath and will stop him being doubled up on by the opposition, as has happened many times this season. 

2 - Pepe needs to be more aggressive in demanding the ball. He is shy and isn't the type to outwardly moan but sometimes it is warranted. He is by a mile our best dribbler and I think our most dangerous player on the ball along with Aubameyang.

3 - Arsenal need to surround Pepe with faster players. One of our main weaknesses is our lack of athleticism in midfield, and this can prevent Pepe from having more options. Ceballos, Xhaka or Torriera are not players who players who land in the final third. A Ramsey-type midfielder with an eye for goal would also help Pepe improve, as he could play more one-two's and quicker passes in general. I believe Pepe is our replacement to Ozil and I think he can have just as impressive an assist record of the team is improved in certain areas.