Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger has gone out of his skin to buy Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez after a turbulent start to the new season. The main concern for Wenger would be the frequent injury woes, almost all of his first team defenders are out injured and it’s time until they’ll be back. Also, playing with Walcott & Giroud upfront hasn’t done him any good and the Frenchman also gets a lot of stick for preferring his fellow Frenchman, Olivier Giroud.
Lucas Perez, the Deportivo striker can be called more of an emergency signing rather than a necessity one from Arsenal’s boss. But, he could turn out to be a good signings for the Gunners, and he’ll also give their attack another dimension which Giroud fails to provide.
The Deportivo man finally hit his stride last season after some modest times in Ukraine and Greece. Considering the Spanish outfit’s limitations, who finished 15th last season, Perez’s statistics paint him as a beacon of efficiency upfield and his stats comparatively to his future teammates at Emirates are only favourable to him.
His goal tally of 17 trumps both of Gunners forward superstars Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud who racked 13 and 16 respectively.
Now, the question is who between Perez and Giroud should start the games?
Olivier Giroud, who has been with Arsenal since 2012-13 season has scored 57 goals in 136 league appearances. His main asset is his physical play, he could hold up the ball really well and bring other into the attack. His prowess in air is immense too, but the Frenchman has a fair share of criticism from the Arsenal faithfuls for missing easy put ins and at times disappearing in his general play. His record is big games is also incredibly disappointing and that is the reason Arsenal fans have been crying out for a new striker who could fill the place left by a certain Robin Van Persie.
Perez, who is capable of playing upfront as a striker and a wide right forward could give Arsene Wenger a lot of options going forward. If Arsenal choose to play Perez as the only striker ahead of Olivier Giroud then Wenger’s side who mostly play 4-2-3-1 will likely start Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to give them that speed and creativity upfront and could feed Perez to put it in the net.
Perez’s statistics with such mediocre midfielders prove that with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez he could light up Emirates. Also, Perez could take a place on the right to let Giroud keep his place upfront with Alexis on the other wing and Ozil feeding as the no. 10.
Wenger could also switch to a 4-4-2 to accommodate both Perez and Giroud as strikers. Albeit having his critics, Olivier Giroud will most likely start for Arsenal as of now but if Perez lives upto his form from La Liga then the Frenchman could have to watch his teammates play from the bench.
