Arsenal: Lucas Perez Turning Into Another Lukas Podolski

Arsenal don’t utilize Lucas Perez like they should and it’s beginning to look a lot like what happened when Lukas Podolski was frozen out.

When Arsenal was writhing from the departure of Robin van Persie, they brought in two guys – Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski. Two different types of strikers to fill the void left by one all-inclusive striker.

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The results were pretty solid and showed what could have proven to be a solid partnership. Giroud scored 17 in 47 and Podolski scored 16 in 42.

The next season told a different story, as Giroud saw a rise in his appearances and Podolski’s freezing-out process began. He scored at an even better clip but something just didn’t sit with him and the club and the next year, he wasn’t even close to being a factor.

It almost feels like Lucas Perez is on a fast-forward replay of Podolski’s Arsenal career track. Only he wasn’t given the same initial chance that Podolski was.

Sometimes I just want to pick at Wenger’s brain for answers to questions that will never be answered. Podolski wasn’t a world-beater, but he was a goal scorer, something that the Gunners keenly needed, yet he wasn’t given a chance.

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Fast forward three or four years and we are at the same place, only with different people. Lucas Perez is not just a goal scorer, he is more than that, a forward with fantastic link-up play and passing ability.

And he is not getting a chance.

Now, there is quite the stir that he is seeking an early exit. And while Lucas’s agent has gone about clarifying that his client does indeed want a career in North London, there is no hiding how unhappy he is. And why shouldn’t he be?

Lucas Perez has a fantastic goal scoring record in his limited appearances, just like Lukas Podolski. He has a minuscule number of appearances, just like Podolski. And now I wonder if he isn’t risking being frozen out and used in far-too sporadic appearances.

It wouldn’t be the first time Wenger has been cruel to a player and frozen them out of the club. Tomas Rosicky spoke out vehemently about being frozen out of the club, emphasizing how not funny it was. And again, Podolski was another instance.

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The track record just doesn’t bode well for Lucas, who deserves so much more than what he is getting. Hopefully he can get whatever he wants, because he has had a career of being buried and unappreciated.