How Kolo Toure convinced me to sign for Arsenal – Nicolas Pepe

Arsenal have announced the signing of Ivorian star Nicolas Pepe whose capture reportedly cost the Gunners 72 million pounds.

The former Lille forward becomes the North London side’s record signing and the fourth Ivory Coast international to represent Arsenal, emulating Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Eboue and Gervinho.

Pepe has now let the cat out of the bag about how ex-Arsenal defender Kolo Toure was instrumental to his decision to sign for the Gunners ahead of other suitors.

“Kolo Toure was with us on the [Ivory Coast national] squad as an assistant coach [at the Africa Cup of Nations],” Pepe explained.

“He spoke to me a lot about the very high level, how he got to Arsenal and how you always have to work hard and really graft on a daily basis to try and get right to the very top.

“Toure, Eboue and Gervinho are the major players from the Ivory Coast,” he added.

“We talk a lot about Gervinho, for example, who played for Lille and ended up at Arsenal, so I am on the same path. They are definitely examples to us young Ivorians and I hope we will continue to follow these examples.”