Arsenal: Lucas Perez Prying Open This Gunners Attack

Arsenal witnessed more growth out of Lucas Perez as it becomes more obvious that he won’t give up prying open this tight-knit starting XI.

One of the things that has really held Arsenal’s attack back in recent memory is finding space when there doesn’t seem to be any. Alexis has done a great job whittling into space, but even he, when played up front, can get smothered.

Related: 5 Things We Learned Against Southampton

Mesut Ozil is also a king of finding space with his pinpoint passing.

But aside from that, there isn’t much. Olivier Giroud’s size creates its own space from time to time, but the point is that the Gunners attack can and has been smothered.

Lucas Perez may be the solution to that. Yet again against Southampton, he was responsible for so many pin point passes that found space where there didn’t seem to be any. He did the same against Preston North End in the FA Cup.

Lucas spoke up early on in the season that he was expecting a bigger role, and to a certain extent you have top pity him. But if he keeps this up, he is going to earn that role.

Think about this: In Lucas’s last 401 minutes, he has scored four goals and assisted on two. That means that he is contributing to a goal every 66 minutes. You can’t argue with those numbers. They stack up against the best and brightest in this Gunners attack and he has to be met with more opportunities.

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The Spanish striker has had a hard time getting into the Gunners starting XI this season but he is doing so well with each additional performance that he seems to be prying open that starting XI and finding room for himself, along with his ability to pry open opposing defenses.

With Welbeck’s return, I myself counted Lucas out. It felt like there just wasn’t room in this attack for another weapon but, not only is he not going away, he’s actually showing improvement and showing that there should absolutely always be room in this team for his skill set.

He may damn well be our best passing forward. Between that backheel to Giroud against Preston to the beautifully picked out passes (there were many) against Southampton, this guy has an eye for finding his team mates in useful situations.

This is what Lucas was brought over for. His passing and link-up was buried in the depths of La Liga, but here on the biggest stage in World Football, we can see it front and center.

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Good purchase, Wenger. Good purchase.