Arsenal: Lucas Perez Suddenly Causing Minor Dilemmas

Arsenal brought in Lucas Perez to be another option up front, so how is he causing minor selection dilemmas already and what happens against Reading?

Arsenal’s acquisition of Lucas Perez may not have been the massive striker signing so many have been clamoring for, but he provided an option. A striker different from the style that Olivier Giroud had cemented in Wenger’s blueprints.

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However, expectations weren’t exactly that high and when Alexis took over, it seemed like Lucas was simply a rotational option. Wenger clearly didn’t trust him enough to give him any time in major competitions anyway.

Still, it was a bit shocking to hear Lucas come out and say that he expected more of a ‘starring‘ role when he came to North London. Wenger has since countered with a challenge of his own, saying that he needed to take his play from practice into games.

It’s hard to argue what the Spaniard has done against the lesser sides. He registered two goals against Nottingham Forest and set up two for Ozil against Ludogorets. Both of which are pretty impressive in their own right.

And yet, all of a sudden he may actually be causing selection dilemmas.

Take for instance the match today against Reading. It’s a lesser side so it should technically go to Lucas. These have been his competitions. And after challenging the man, Wenger should rightfully give him the chance.

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But logistically, shouldn’t the chance to go to Giroud? The big, bearded Frenchman is back and healthy and Wenger has said he will play. So who do you rob the opportunity to start up front from, Lucas or Giroud? The former hasn’t been given a chance and the latter has earned the chance.

It’s a dilemma that doesn’t have a simple solution. You could move Lucas out wide, which I think is the best option. That gives Iwobi a rest and everyone is as happy as they can be. But Lucas didn’t come here to be a winger.

The simplest solution is to start two strikers, but Wenger is too stubborn to do that. It would be a fantastic experiment to start the two hungry strikers. One with pace, one with power, the results could actually be pretty surprising.

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Plus, it’ll give the young guns surrounding them plenty of options to pass to for that final ball. But Wenger won’t do that. One or the other will start up front and it will be curious to see who.