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Nicolas Pepe insists he has no regrets about leaving Arsenal, saying he has found a more suitable environment at Villarreal after a difficult spell in England.
The Ivory Coast winger, who joined Arsenal for a then club-record fee in 2019, admitted his biggest frustration was a lack of communication under former manager Mikel Arteta, but says he is now enjoying his football again in Spain, where he feels more comfortable both on and off the pitch.
Now at La Liga side Villarreal, the 30-year-old has rediscovered something that once felt distant: stability.
Across 112 appearances in north London, Pepe produced flashes of quality but struggled for consistency, finishing with 27 goals.
As Mikel Arteta reshaped Arsenal in his image, Pepe found himself increasingly on the periphery.
"First, it's different. These two managers are really different," Pepe told Flashscore.
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"We'll start with Arteta, who is a coach who asks for certain things. Sometimes it was a bit tough for me, where from time to time we didn't have this communication. And that's what I regret the most, not having enough communication with him.
"Then with coach Marcelino, it's the opposite, where I think we talk about everything, about nothing, football, not football, whatever.
"I always say that I prefer a coach who is totally transparent with me, whether it's the right or the wrong side. It allows me to move forward and progress."
At Villarreal under Marcelino Garcia Toral, Pepe has five goals and four assists in 29 LaLiga appearances this season.
"It's totally different in terms of intensity of play. [In] the Premier League, we were very much focused on the intensity whereas in Spain we are more relaxed. The idea of playing is to play the ball.
"With stadiums in England I think there are no better. You can go to the third or fourth division, you will have stadiums that are filled with incredible atmosphere.
"In Spain, too, there's atmosphere, but it's totally different. So I think it's two different leagues, but they are at a very high level."
Pepe remains a keen observer of his former club's progress, particularly as Arsenal continue their pursuit of the Premier League title against Manchester City.
"Honestly I think it will be about details. They still have the Champions League to play, so there is that to manage. City have nothing to do, I think they only have the Premier League now, so they will be focused on the Premier League.
"But it will really depend on the details because I think the difference is one goal. I think Arsenal will end up champions, but really, it's a pity losing to City."
For now, Pepe's focus is firmly on Villarreal as the Spanish side sit third in La Liga, pushing for a return to the Champions League after last season's disappointment on the European stage.
"It's important for Villarreal to qualify for the Champions League again because before that, before last year, before this year, we were really keen to qualify. Unfortunately, this year we didn't have a big journey in the Champions League.
"In LaLiga, we really want to qualify to give the fans what they deserve, which is the Champions League. So for now, we're in third. The best thing is to stay third and stay like that until the end of the season."
There is no bitterness in Pepe’s reflections — only perspective. The expectations that once defined him have been replaced by something simpler: a player comfortable in his surroundings, and a career that, quietly, has found its balance again.
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