Nicolas Pepe has revealed that Kolo Toure helped convince him to join Arsenal during the Africa Cup of Nations. Pepe joined French club Lille two years ago and has been prolific ever since, scoring 37 goals in 79 appearances in all competitions.

The Ivorian international today was today confirmed by the Gunners as a club-record £72million signing, completing a deal that was confirmed by the Lille president earlier this week despite Unai Emery’s protestations that the move was ‘only a possiblity’.

However, Pepe is now an Arsenal player and it appears that another former Gunner was instrumental in his making the move. ‘Kolo Toure was with us on the [Ivory Coast national] squad as an assistant coach [at the Africa Cup of Nations],’ Pepe said.

‘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.

‘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.’ Arsenal fans will hope that Pepe is able to deliver a little more than Gervinho, whose form during his 63 appearances for the club turned him something of a running joke.

Manager Emery certainly believes he has the ability to excel, as demonstrated by the interest from elsewhere. ‘Nicolas is a highly-rated and talented winger who was wanted by many of the top teams in Europe,’ Emery said. ‘Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in this transfer window and I’m delighted he’s joining. ‘He will add pace, power and creativity, with the aim of bringing more goals to our team.’