Arsenal: Wenger's Lucas Perez Comments Harsh But Fair
After Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest, Arsene Wenger peculiarly praised Lucas Perez’s performance while criticising his reliance on his left foot.
In an impressive – this should be moderated by the level of opponent, but ultimately, a win is never a bad thing – 4-0 win against Nottingham Forest for Arsenal on Tuesday night, Arsene Wenger decided to blood his latest offensive toy, signed late in the summer transfer window.
Lucas Perez was added in a £17 million deal from Deportivo La Coruna in the hope that he would offer an alternative option to Olivier Giroud. The big Frenchman is a definite asset to this side, effective as a hold-up man, dominant in the air and intelligent in the way he brings others into play. However, recently Wenger has been inclined to play with a threat in behind the opposing defence. That is something that Giroud cannot offer.
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Perez, though, possesses great pace, prefers to make runs without the ball, stretching the channels, rather than dropping deep and receiving the ball to feet and is a composed finisher in front of goal. He displayed all such attributes on Tuesday night, and yet, after the game, Wenger, while still lauding his performance, also criticised it in a rather peculiar way:
“He did well. He’s quick, he’s determined. He uses well his left foot – a bit too much in my taste. He doesn’t use his right enough. Overall he’s like all the left-footed players, you know. But I like his second goal because he has shown not only technique but determination and fight for the ball and finishing and I like that. The part he played in the goal of Oxlade-Chamberlain shows his awareness of other people and it is intelligent play.”
Lucas Perez with another goal #afc
0-3 #NFFCvAFC
[@GoonerTerje]pic.twitter.com/tckCEZnUt0
— Arsenal Latest (@ArsenalsNews) September 20, 2016
Wenger’s comments do perhaps seem a tad harsh. A new signing, in his second start for the club after a frustrating debut where he didn’t see much of the ball, having scored two goals, is criticised for avoiding to use his weaker foot. Having said that, Wenger’s penchant for versatility, both in terms of positional understanding and ability, is renowned for often governing his assessment of players.
Alexis Sanchez has been starting as the central striker, Theo Walcott has been asked to play on both wings and as a striker, Santi Cazorla has played in a whole host of positions throughout his tenure in North London. Wenger priorities versatility in his players, and if Perez relies on one foot more than the other, then that limits the ways in which he can be used within the side.
Wenger was not overly critical of Perez’s whole performance. He was still gushing over his second goal and his assist for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late finish. Nonetheless, after only his second start, Le Prof was still publicly criticising aspects of his performance, indicating the importance of flexibility for Arsene Wenger.
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