Now that Arsenal have officially announced the record signing of Nicolas Pepe, head coach Unai Emery will have a few options with formations. The £72 million deal for the former Lille winger gives the Gunners much needed versatility and width in the squad. How are three different ways Emery could utilize his new star.

1. Part of a Front Three (4-3-3)

A front three of Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Alexandre Lacazette is about as lethal as it gets in the Premier League. Aubameyang is obviously best suited as a center forward, but that doesn’t mean he can’t also play well out wide. Emery clearly wants the Gabon international to get used to being on the flanks, as he regularly deployed Aubameyang out wide during the U.S. summer preseason tour.

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Also, although he was part of a front two partnership with Lacazette, Aubameyang’s best game with the Gunners (the 4-2 win away to Valencia) came when he was playing mostly out wide. Emery also gives his forwards freedom to interchange with each other to help confuse opposing defenses. All three of the aforementioned players can rotate and move around in the different advanced positions. Pepe could be used much like Mohamed Salah in Liverpool’s 4-3-3 formation.

2. Right Winger (4-2-3-1)

Pepe is capable of tormenting defenses with his dribbling ability and eye for goal, but also with his vision. The 24-year-old winger seems to always have a great understanding of where his teammates are on the pitch. Although the 4-3-3 would be the sexier option for the Gunners, a 4-2-3-1 could make for a more balanced team. Emery may still opt to put Aubameyang on the left flank, but Reiss Nelson or Alex Iwobi could also be up for selection as well. This would leave Lacazette as the main center forward (or Aubameyang if chosen).

Once a healthy Hector Bellerin returns to the squad, the right flank of the Spaniard and Pepe would certainly be fun to watch. Bellerin loves to play intricate passes and layoffs with attacking players and it’s fairly safe to say that he has never played with a better winger than the Ivory Coast international.

3. Striker Partnership (3-4-1-2)

Although Emery would obviously like to deploy a formation with four defenders at the back, he needs the correct players to do so. Celtic left back Kieran Tierney would be one of the most important additions to the Arsenal squad this summer. If the Gunners can secure the Scotland international, which appears likely, then they will almost certainly play most matches with a back four. However, Emery has said this summer that he could still deploy different formations for different situations.

Arsenal, mostly due to injuries, used a 3-4-1-2 at times last season. If Emery chooses to go with a front two, Pepe could very well be picked to play alongside either Aubameyang or Lacazette. Further injuries (knock on wood) could also force the Spanish head coach to utilize a back three and front two formation during the 2019/20 campaign. Although Pepe is obviously better out wide, he can also play off of another center forward.