The striker has found himself on the periphery at Arsenal since joining in the summer.
Arsenal’s Lucas Perez and Mesut Ozil before training
Arsenal striker Lucas Perez has admitted to Onda Cero that he expected to play more of a starring role for the Gunners this season.
The striker arrived at the Emirates from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer transfer window as the Gunners him signed from under the noses of Everton.
There was hope he would prove to be the striker that the squad sorely needed, with question marks remaining over Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott following last season.
Arsenal’s Lucas Perez
Instead, he has found himself playing a bit-part role, managing just 64 minutes in the Premier League so far.
That is because Arsene Wenger has used Alexis Sanchez as his central striker, a switch that has garnered much success.
And now he has admitted he did not expect the situation to be this way when he decided to make the move.
“When I first arrived here I expected to have more of a starring role,” he told Onda Cero.
“The teammates that are playing in my position are doing a great job. We have won seven games in a row and, at the end of the day, the coach wants what is best for the team.”
Arsenal’s Lucas Perez scores their second goal from the penalty spot
Unfortunately for Perez, that successful winning run from the Gunners is likely to see him staying out of the team for the foreseeable future.
Not only is Alexis Sanchez playing well himself, his move into the middle also appears to be getting the best out of Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott.
The German already has six goals to his name while Walcott is the club’s leading goalscorer with eight.
That successful working relationship is likely to be something Wenger will want to keep going for as long as possible meaning Perez could find himself on the bench for some time yet.
Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Lucas Perez
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