Lucas Perez’s first season with Arsenal just didn’t come off as he would have liked. Despite of some notable performances as well as fans calling his involvement, he was not provided with enough chances to cement his place upfront. Perez was resembled as bench player for majority of his time at North-London.
With arrival of Alexander Lacazette in the summer, it was absolute certain that Lucas Perez is on his way out of Arsenal despite arriving just past season for £17.1 million from Deportivo. It was unclear that will Arsenal sell him or loan him out.
With interest from Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham United his former club Deportivo la Coruna snapped Lucas Perez on season long loan.
Big things were expected from Lucas after he completed headline return to his former club. Did he live up to the expectations ? – We will review his performance of 2017-18 Season (only until winter break) i.e mid-season review.
Lucas Perez’s season until now is not what anyone would have expected after how he performed for Arsenal at his time there and prior to his Arsenal arrival, he is not have a good 2017-18 campaign.
He started the season with couple of substitute appearances before he was presented in the starting line-up.
It was his fifth appearance in Primera Division where he netted his first goal of the season. Deportivo hosted Getafe but found themselves behind with moment of brilliance from Amath. Lucas Perez equalised for Deportivo after the hour mark, with Juanfran cutting in from the right side crossing the ball to Perez who controlled the ball brilliantly – turned around and well angled shot to beat Vicente Guaita.
Lucas Perez was again the man who equalized when Deportivo dropped three points at home against Girona. Lucas earned himself a penalty after overplaying Ramalho in the penalty box. Perez stepped up and it was a perfectly taken penalty shaving the net from top-left corner.
The best match(considering by numbers) he has had so far this season came against Las Palmas at Estadio Gran Canaria when he played part in setting up one and scoring one too. Though that goal came in a penalty but every time ball goes past goalkeeper counts. Perez hits fine right bottom from the spot – keeper goes the right way but was not able to stop it. His only assist of the campaign came from a corner met by Celso Borges back post.
Lucas Perez was again on the mark against Malaga, scoring the first one for Deportivo in 3-2 defeat away from home. Brilliant cross from Celso Borges which is met finely by Lucas Perez and his kisses the badge in joy.
Just four goals and one assist so far this season, for a regular center forward numbers like this convey some real bad outings. Lucas Perez is having a season which he needs to forget soon.
On a brighter side, he is playing part in play making – have superb passing accuracy and averages decent for generating key passing game-in-game-out. But, he needs to improve on his dribbles and getting the ball on target.
His performance has been total below par this season and continuing like this will surely close doors for Arsenal return. Not only Arsenal return but also it will slash his value which Arsenal will be expecting if they sell him in the summer.
