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Arsenal: Time To Unleash Lucas Perez
Lucas Perez has been held back so far this season. After a series of bright displays, it is time to unleash the Arsenal striker over the coming weeks.
The attacking options that Arsene Wenger has available to him at Arsenal are as varied and as potent as the days when the great Thierry Henry patrolled the line, teeth gnarling as he hunted down yet another net-busting goal.
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However, had you not known of the abilities of the names and simply watched the 3-1 title-ending loss to Chelsea at the weekend, you would have struggled to see how such a collection of seemingly idealess players could come together to form such a vicious attack.
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Nonetheless, the options are there but perhaps the wrong ones are being used. Speaking in an interview with Arsenal.com, new signing Lucas Perez, who was maligned earlier in the season when he looked short of pace and struggled to adapt to the fast-paced life of the Premier League, stated that he is now settled into life in North London and is ready to press on and vindicate the £17 million invested in his services in the summer:
"“I was really happy as that was the first time in my career I was in the starting lineup for a Champions League match. Players are all different, so some take longer to adapt than others. It was still quite a change for me to get used to the English league when I moved here from Spain. Everyone needs some time to adjust. Now I feel really comfortable and I’ve fitted in well to the team – that’s particularly important for a player.”"
Perez has, in short, sharp bursts, shown glimpses of his quality. His hat-trick in the Champions League, his late came against Bournemouth, highlighted by a sumptuous left-footed volley to inspire a three-goal comeback, and his bright display in the demolition of Southampton in the FA Cup which was bursting with neat, subtle touches and cute first-time flicks are all prime examples of him showcasing his talent.
Nonetheless, thanks to a cruel combination of injuries, poor displays at crucial moments and Wenger seemingly being very hesitant with his new man, Perez has not enjoyed the opportunities that his performances deserve.
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With the league all but over, a difficult tie with Bayern Munich in the Champions League and only the FA Cup a realistic chance of a trophy this season, it is time to build towards next year and unleash Perez for the remainder of the season. He could well be an exciting talent in the coming years, he just needs a chance to prove it.