Arsenal: Lucas Perez Has More Of A Chance On The Wing

With Arsenal boasting a surplus of strikers, Lucas Perez is likely to receive more starting opportunities out wide than through the middle.

Lucas Perez was signed last summer for a fee of 17m pounds. While many have labelled him as quick fix panic buy, he is slowly starting to win over the Arsenal supporters with a series of impressive cameos.

The season started in a difficult manner for Perez. A brace in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest may have got the ball rolling nicely, but an injury soon after prevented further progress. Yet on his return, the Spaniard looks to be having more of an impact.

Having already contributed to 11 goals so far, Perez looks good value for money. While he may have been signed as a striker, more opportunities are likely to come on the flanks considering the abundance of talent up front and the inconsistencies out wide.

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Currently, Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez are fighting it out for the starting central striker’s spot. With Welbeck now back in the fray as well, it suddenly looks like an overpopulated position.

Although Sanchez may currently be operating on the wing and thus limiting possible game time for Perez there, I expect him to return to a central role soon. Giroud is only suitable for certain opponents. Once his tremendous current form slows down, it’s likely Sanchez will reclaim his favoured position.

This leaves Perez to fight it out with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi for the two spots out wide (assuming Ramsey stays in central midfield). All three of these players have their qualities but you would give Perez more than a good chance to overhaul two of the three.

Chamberlain and Walcott have both been suffering from Arsenal-esque chronic injury problems recently. If Lucas can take advantage when one of them is out, a run in the side may leave him as a front-runner for one of the two wing spots.

Even Iwobi has to watch his back with Lucas lurking. He may be in great form at present but the young man can be prone to periods of lesser performances. The pathway isn’t easy but there is certainly a case to be made for Lucas starting out wide. Especially considering the qualities the Spaniard possesses.

Perez has a brilliant left foot. If you didn’t see some of his strikes in Spain, you only need to look at his goal against Bournemouth. What a peach that was! This lethal weapon allows him either to whip crosses in as a left winger or cut in and fire shots at goal as a right winger. Having another regular source of goals will only strengthen Arsenal’s front line.

Perez also possesses good crossing ability and his dribbling allows him to weave out of small spaces. Such abilities are essential when operating as a winger. This is coupled with the fact that he boasts a terrific work rate.

This is where Chamberlain and Walcott also excel but it is an area that Iwobi is often lax in. Tracking back to support your fullback is crucial in the frenetic nature of the Premier League and is something Wenger demands from his wide men.

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Considering all this, it seems logical for Perez to be searching for a spot out wide. He can always return to lead the line in future and if required in an injury crisis. But with qualities that suit a winger and less players to compete with, a wide spot may be more attainable for our super Spaniard

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