This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…

Nicolas Pepe grabbed plenty of headlines against Sheffield United for all the wrong reasons.

The Arsenal winger, signed for a staggering £72m in the summer, missed a gilt-edged chance in the first-half, failing to connect properly with a cross from just a few yards out.

The Blades subsequently took the lead through Lys Mousset and held on to take all three points at Bramall Lane; Pepe’s miss, then, was intrinsic to the fabric of the game and to United’s victory.

However, the statistics of the game paint a rather different picture.

Pepe had a total of 72 touches throughout the game – one for every million pounds he set the Gunners back – and registered three shots on goal, with only one on target.

He also had five successful dribbles, the joint-highest of either team and recorded a passing accuracy of 89% from 35 passes.

He won two aerial duels, made five tackles and also registered one key pass.

This is a prime example of a player who actually turned in an effective, assiduous performance but made one major mistake, which is likely to colour perceptions of his display.

Pepe’s miss was, of course, execrable but he got on the ball and constantly looked to make something happen.

It is impressive that the Ivory Coast international did not hide following his difficult moment and continually attempted to beat his man and hit the back of the net.

That he failed, of course, is not ideal but one has to believe that, soon enough, the ball will hit the back of the net and Pepe will get the reward his display on Monday deserved.