Olivier Giroud’s late sending off in Paris may open the door for new boy Lucas Perez Martinez to make his first ever Champions League start.
In the first round of Champions League fixtures, Arsenal played their toughest match of the group: away to Paris Saint-Germain.
They were thoroughly unconvincing, conceding after just 42 seconds to an Edinson Cavani header, but escaped with a point thanks to a series of comical misses from the Uruguayan and a late Alexis Sanchez strike.
In the closing stages of the game, a clash between Olivier Giroud and Marco Verratti saw both sent off for second bookable offences, leaving them each with a one-match ban ahead of the second round of fixtures.
Giroud did not start in Paris, with Sanchez preferred up front, but it is important to note that Arsenal’s goal came after the former’s introduction off the bench – with Sanchez moving to the flank.
As a striker, the Chilean often looked isolated, and the sight of him cutting a frustrated figure as he pressed alone from the front was not an uncommon one. On the wing, he sees more of the ball and is able to exert a greater influence on the game – demonstrated not only by his goal, but by his numerous reverse-through balls after the switch.
If manager Arsene Wenger accepts that Sanchez should not play up front for Arsenal (at least not on his own), then that is good news for £17 million man Lucas Perez Martinez.
The former Deportivo La Coruna striker started up front in the 2-1 victory against Southampton, but struggled to make much of an impact, often drifting wide in search of the ball.
This is something he cannot afford to do should he be handed another opportunity before Arsenal’s clash with Basel on September 28. The Spaniard needs to stay in a central role and prove that he is the striker the club so desperately need – and the one they should start in the absence of Giroud.
The Frenchman is Arsenal’s most established centre-forward, but he was sent off in the Gunners’ first Champions League game of the season last year as well, and his ability to lead the line for Arsenal has been questioned by some.
If he can put in an impressive performance – and maybe even score his first goal – he will put himself in an excellent position to earn a start against the Swiss champions, and begin to build some momentum for his career in an Arsenal shirt – something he will be keen to do before the return of Danny Welbeck and increased competition for the striker’s role.
Lucas has been handed the number 9, now it’s time for him to seize this opportunity and prove that he deserves it.
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