Arsenal agree to send Nicolas Pepe out on a season-long loan to Nice

Arsenal have agreed to send club-record signing Nicolas Pepe out on loan to French side Nice.

The winger, 27, has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates since his £72million move from Lille in the summer of 2019 and Sportsmail understands that he will complete his straight loan switch in the coming days.

Reports suggest that there is no option to buy included in the deal. 

Pepe made only five Premier League starts for the Gunners last season, netting just one goal in the top-flight. 

The Ivory Coast international has also not featured in any of Arsenal’s opening three games of the season – suggesting that he is not set to be a key figure for Mikel Arteta’s side.

Nice have signed former Premier League duo Aaron Ramsey and Kasper Schmeichel this summer, while Arsenal are expected to contribute towards Pepe’s wages if he makes the move to the French Riviera.

The winger has fallen down the pecking order in north London following the emergences of young duo Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli in recent years.

Pepe has fallen out of favour under Gunners manager Mikel Arteta (pictured) this season

The winger has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates since his £72m move from Lille

And the Gunners boss has been coy when asked about Pepe’s potential departure after his recent omissions from the side.

Speaking ahead of a press conference before club’s win over Bournemouth earlier this month, Arteta said: ‘What we can communicate we always do when it’s the right moment.

‘We discussed that we have a big squad and we’ve made some decisions and allowed some players to leave. Until the end of the window anything is possible with any player.’

Pepe has made 112 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring 27 goals.