The Ivory Coast international was a second-half substitute in the Gunners’ opening-day win over Newcastle last weekend.

It’s been a great rise from Pepe with the beginning of his football career much more humble.

Pepe started at French minnows Stade Poitevin, a club he helped save from relegation in the 2012/13 season.

Poitevin president Regis Dubois told The Mirror: “He was young but I saw him ­develop here.

“He scored a magnificent goal against Nantes Reserves in the last match of the season and saved us from relegation – that is why we are in National 3 today.

“It was a goal of beauty. He started on the flank and dribbled past all these players before a marvellous shot into the top corner.”

Pepe’s £72million move from Lille to Arsenal saw French fifth tier side Poitevin bank £1million.

Gunners boss Unai Emery will be relying on the winger to score the goals to help the club finish in the top four this season.

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Dubois added: “He was a nice kid, popular – not difficult to coach. There are certain kids I have seen who are not like that.

“They arrive and they think they are Neymar before putting football boots on.

“You could see he was a bit special but he was so young and there was such a long way to go in his career. But he has since made such an improvement and had such a career that I can only say ‘bravo.’”

In his pre-match press conference, Unai Emery gave nothing away when asked if new signings David Luiz, Dani Ceballos and Pepe would make their full debuts this weekend.

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