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Arsenal: Lucas Perez Showing Signs Of Life
Lucas Perez gently sparked into life in Arsenal’s last-gasp win over Preston on Saturday, suggesting that he could yet be a major contributor.
Second half comebacks is seemingly an expertise of this team. In successive games, Arsenal have rescued a late point against Bournemouth, after digging a three-goal hole for themselves, and then on Saturday, conspired to again haul themselves out of trouble with a 90th-minute goal to ensure qualification to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
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The 2-1 win was wholly undeserved. Preston North End were far the superior side in the first half, dominating the midfield areas with far greater mobility and dynamism. Ben Pearson was excellent as a scrappy, industrious enforcer, turning provider when necessary. Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey, meanwhile, in the first half at least, struggled to build a platform for any semblance of attacking play.
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In the second half, Arsenal were able to string some successful pieces of play together, especially through the link up play of Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez. The former did score a header, diverting a wonderfully dinked cross from Perez past Ryan Maxwell, which would have likely confirmed victory for the Gunners if not for the linesman’s flag.
Nonetheless, the two linked up once again later in the match. Giroud won the header – as he so often does, Perez, collected the flick on, produced a lovely, aware backheel into the path of his strike partner who duly poked it home. The late comeback was thanks to much of the great work that both did but it was Perez that truly sparked the Arsenal attacking play.
Like his late cameo against Bournemouth just a few days previous, he was direct in his play, willing to run at opposing defenders while boasting quality delivery, especially from wide areas, when in the right positions.
Signed in a £17 million deal in the summer, there had been growing doubts over Arsene Wenger’s decision to sign the Spaniard. Struggling to break into the first team due to a combination of the difficulties of adapting to the Premier League and multiple fitness concerns, Perez’s value was beginning to be questioned.
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Yet, this past week he is showing signs of life; signs that he can provide the direct pace that Arsenal need in the final third, with a calm and ruthless streak in front of goal and the versatility and the delivery to play out wide. Perhaps Perez is not the underwhelming signing that many, myself included, were too quick to label as.