Lucas Perez has claimed that he is ‘proud’ Arsenal paid so much money for his talents, even if it didn’t work out for him, as he told La Voz de Galicia.
The 33-year-old, who is now playing for Elche in Spain’s top-tier, joined Arsenal from Deportivo La Coruna in 2016 for £17 million (Sky Sports).
But he struggled during his time in North London, scoring seven goals in 21 games for the North London club.
He had his moments Perez in Arsenal colours, but a number of years after signing for the club, he was moving across London to West Ham.
Perez didn’t really get going there either, before he finally returned to Spain in 2019, where he still presides.
Nonetheless, he was pretty open in the ‘trust’ that has been put in him by others and how he is always ‘grateful’ for that faith.
“But I can tell you that I am proud that many clubs have paid for me,” said Perez. “And I will always be grateful to each of them who have trusted.
“There is a lot of talk about Arsenal, but if Arsenal paid 21 million it is because before I played and grew up in others.”
During the period Perez was at Arsenal, they were perhaps going through one of their worst periods, which also included Arsene Wenger leaving the club.
In truth, the club have stagnated even more since then and now find themselves out of Europe altogether.
Mikel Arteta is the man tasked to get them out of their current troubles and he needs the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang firing if things are to go well.
If not, then it will filter across the pitch and only result in Arteta getting the chop because this is now a make or break season for him.
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