Former Arsenal winger Darren Carter believes manager Mikel Arteta will give Nicolas Pepe a chance to establish himself this season.
Pepe has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League and managed just five goals in 31 top-flight appearances.
Carter - who had a four-year stay in north London during the 90s - reckons the 25-year-old is fortunate Arteta took charge after Unai Emery's dismissal in November.
"Perhaps another manager would have looked at Pepe and decided he wasn't right," he told the Daily Star. "There would have been a chance of him getting moved on.
"Let's be honest, he was disappointing initially - especially off the back of the big price tag. But I think Arteta has seen something in him.
"It was against West Ham where he was brilliant and I'm sure from then on he decided Pepe could do a job for the football club.
"He's got ability - that's for sure - and having the backing of a manager gives you so much confidence. It'll help him improve even more.
"Players also sometimes take a little bit of time to settle, but he's now won the FA Cup and bedded in well with his team-mates.
"I expect him to go up a level after virtually a full campaign under his belt with Arsenal."
