6 reasons why it might be worth trying Nicolas Pepe at CF a-la Thierry Henry

Nicolas Pepe has had an inconsistent first season at Arsenal. He has been on and off in terms of form and even playing time.

However, we don't think he's a lost cause, far from it. Indeed, Pepe reminds us of Thierry Henry when the Frenchman just joined Arsenal - in more ways than one.

Could a switch in position benefit Nico as much as it benefited Henry? We analyse which qualities Pepe can use at centre-forward to great effect and how else a change can make him blossom

• The winger boasts a frightening pace. We are not even sure who will win in a race between Pepe and Aubameyang but we do know the latter's runs are equally as scary.
• Pepe has good close-quarters control. The Ivorian is very technical on the ball, no two ways about it. He might need to learn to release it earlier, however, there's no doubt Pepe has good technique.
• Nico takes up good positions inside the box. His goals against Newcastle and Man United go to prove it. Pepe knows how to be in the right place at the right time - and that makes for a quality centre-forward more often than not.
• He won't be limited by the touchline. Pepe's right leg is basically a chocolate leg. On the wing, it makes him easier to defend against because his only trick is to cut inside. If he's deployed as a centre-forward though, Nico would have more room for manoeuvre.
• Pepe will be spared defensive work ... to some extent. Tracking back and helping Bellerin is not Nico's forte. However, he won't need to put in as many miles at centre-forward.
• His confidence will come back with goals. The Ivorian seems to depend on his mood quite a lot. If he's confident, he's scary for opponents. If he's rattled, he's easy to defend against. Fielding Nico as a striker will allow him to score more and that, in turn, will do wonders for his self-esteem.

Anything we might have missed? Think Pepe is worth a shot at centre-forward? Let us know below!