How to you apply licks

Ever since starting I've never been able to effectively improvise, I'll be able to come up with a good line every now and again but it always devolves into me just play arpeggios over the changes and the licks I do learn I don't know how to implement them. I'm not sure how I can get out of this

I've seen people talk about learning solos ear but I always get overwhelmed

Any advice would be a god send