Who is Lucas Perez? SunSport profiles Arsenal’s new striker after £17m move from Deportivo is confirmed
Here is what you need to know about the 27-year-old hit-man who Barcelona tracked at the beginning of the summer
BEFORE Arsenal supporters throw up their arms at the news that the club have met Lucas Perez’s release clause of £17m, they should consider that at one stage during this window he was a very real consideration for Barcelona.
Arsene Wenger has always been keen to bring in the right players at the right price, and the Deportivo la Coruna striker certainly fits into that bracket.
A proven scorer who is composed in the final third, his 17 goals during the 2015/16 campaign represented over a third of Depor’s total for the season.
A record of one-in-two over the last couple of years should at the very least have everyone sitting up and taking notice.
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At 27, he is at the right age to peak for the Gunners and his speed of thought and mobility are all attributes that will dovetail nicely with those players already in situ.
Although he isn’t the paciest of front men, his intelligence with or without the ball is worth a yard or two of space, and his ability to bring team mates into the game is of the highest quality.
If there’s one issue that Wenger will be keen to iron out, it’s perhaps Lucas’ accuracy in the pass. 79% completion across the season is by no means poor, but nor is it quite to the standard that the Frenchman sets for his staff.
He can play anywhere across the front line so offers Arsenal a little more versatility than they have at present, and if he’s required to be the target man that’s been suggested the north Londoners lack, his aerial prowess ensures he can fill that role too.
A marked difference between La Liga and the Premier League in terms of the style of play isn’t a hindrance either, Lucas’ natural game is based around an industrious work-ethic that will fit perfectly well in England.