Arteta: No more excuses for Nicolas Pepe

The honeymoon is over for Nicolas Pepe. The €79 million worth Ivorian winger needed time to adjust to life in the Premier League, but apparently, after a year and a half, his time is up, at least according to the Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta.

The Ivorian has (finally) been in good form, as he scored in both games in the Europa League against Slavia Prague, and started in eight out of the last 12 games for the Gunners. For Arteta, it means no more variations for Pepe, he must always play like this.

"Nico has this ability – it depends on him, we can help him as much as we want but he needs to have the right mindset and consistency to do what he can do. Because that is the level that we are going to ask of him, the level I am asking of him – if it is something below that he is not going to play. He just needed to change his mindset."

"He needed a period of adaptation and that is gone now. So we cannot rely on adaptation again, now it is about performance and he can do it. He has got the players to support him, a manager that trusts him, he has got all the staff that are willing to help him and all the team-mates who really like him because he is a really likeable character so there are no excuses“ said Arteta before the Premier League match with Fulham.

The Gunners have a slim chance to finish in the Europa League spot, and in order to have any chance to do that, they will need to defeat Fulham on Sunday. Arteta will again be without the same players: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (malaria), Martin Odegaard (ankle), Kieran Tierney (knee) and David Luiz (knee). Fulham's Terence Kongolo has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, but Ademola Lookman will be available.

With a comfortable seven-point cushion over third-placed Leicester, Manchester United can turn their attention to statistics. United will be looking to complete their first league double over Burnley since the 1975-76 campaign, following their 1-0 win at Turf Moor in the reverse fixture. But it won’t be easy.

"The last three games against Burnley we have conceded two goals. we have not won any of the last three home games against Burnley. It is a massive game for the players. Massive game for them to show the mentality that they have shown over the last 13-14 months because I think the attitude has been spot on.

"The determination, the bounce-back ability the of not letting one defeat derail your season or lose the momentum. Get straight back on getting points or a win. The way the players have coped with the whole situation, the players I have to say they have impressed me” said Solskjaer at the press conference.

After serving a suspension in the Europa League, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay and Harry Maguire were rested during the week and will certainly start, while Marcus Rashford is still not 100% per cent and will start from the bench, at best.

That will probably leave Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with an option to pair Cavani, Greenwood and Pogba in attack. Burnley has problems with their reliable goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was injured and a decision about his involvement will be reached on the day of the game.

PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 32

Saturday

Newcastle - West Ham 3-2 (2-0)

/Joelington 41, Willock 83 - Diop 36(og), 73, Lingard 80(p)/

Southampton - Crystal Palace - postponed

Wolverhampton - Sheffield United 1-0 (0-0)

/Jose 59/

Sunday

15.30 Arsenal - Fulham

18.00 Manchester United - Burnley

Monday

22.00 Leeds United - Liverpool

Tuesday

22.00 Chelsea - Brighton & Hove Albion

Wednesday

22.00 Leicester City – WBA