As Mikel Arteta led his team from the sidelines, his 41-year-old colleague was on the field attempting to dash Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Pepe exits the show with warrior status if this is his last season. Remarkably, the Porto centre-defender has never given a damn about what other people think of him. He is the first outfield player beyond 40 to compete in this tournament.
That much is evident from his extensive list of infractions, which includes stamping on Lionel Messi’s hand during the 2012 El Clasico.
The three-time Champions League winner displayed both brilliance and vulnerability in two crucial situations in the first half alone last night.
Ben White’s looping cross beat goalie Diogo Costa in the air on minute 29. Pepe was there to watch the ball go wide, but not before he whacked his arm against a post.
A satisfactory outcome that meets his expectations. However, he was unable to stop Leandro Trossard from darting into the box later in the half because he was not able to reach his man in time. Truly, he ought to have, with Trossard scoring a goal.
His larger performance did, however, include some standout moments. As seen by the eight minutes he spent pedaling back while 12 years Trossard was chasing him, he still had some engine left in him.
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He continued to be a threat from set pieces, flying high into the opposition box. His Porto teammates may have created more from a pair of headed flick-ons.
All of this points to the same conclusion: Pepe still has life left in it.
Throughout his two-decade career, the ugly and the terrible have certainly made an appearance, but as Martin Odegaard stated on Monday of his former Real Madrid teammate, “What he’s doing at that age… a lot of respect (to him)”
The veteran has a career that many would be envious of, whatever comes next.
