Lucas Perez says that despite limited playing time since his arrival in August, he has the trust of Arsene Wenger, and is ready to play wherever the manager needs him.
The Spaniard made his Champions League debut against Ludogorets on Wednesday night, and was asked to play from the right hand side. He set up two goals, one from the left and one from the right, for Mesut Ozil, adding to the two goals and assist he got against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup.
Afterwards, he said he’s willing to pitch in in various positions, and know he has the trust of Arsene Wenger.
“I can adapt to any position in the attack,” he told IB Times. “I am here for every time the manager needs me. The coach told me to be patient because he trusts in me.
“He says that he has been following me for a long time and that he likes me so I have to be patient. He said that opportunities will come and today he has proved it. He is a good guy and is always there to help us.”
And at 28 he’s mature enough to know how it goes, especially when a team is playing so well.
“When you arrive at a new club it’s obvious that you have the enthusiasm and the desire to prove your worth,” he said. “But this is Arsenal and there is much competition, those who are playing are doing well.
“When I came to Arsenal I knew where I was coming. I know there are great players here. I have to wait for the opportunity.
“Everyone wants to play, but the important thing is the team. The most important thing is to be ready to do my best when I have the chance.”
Lucas Stats
Starts: 2
Sub: 2
Goals: 2
Assists: 3
See all first team stats on our stats page – sortable by category.
I love the grounded attitude and vibes from the team. Long may it continue.
#YaGunnersYa
#COYRRG
That’s the spirit. Big fan of his and I still think he’d be a good number 9 for us. The thought of him and Alexis pressing together is too good to ignore. He could be what Eduardo was to us before he got injured.
LP9 …Lukas Podolski …Lucas Perez
Long pointed knife….
Nailed it!
Nice. I was trying to figure out who he reminded me of, just in his technical style. And it is Eduardo.
So long since we had an impact substitute in our team. Patient, hard-working and skilful. Great attitude overall. +1 to Vardy for rejecting us.
Great attitude and maturity, and also very good stats in the few occasions he’s been called upon. Could be crucial come Jan / Feb
Lucas sounds like a top chap. Can’t wait for him to bang in some goals soon!
Love that attitude. I guess that’s the type of thing you get from a guy who’s taken the long way to the top.
Much better than a whiny twat like Nasri, or Jamie ‘I only just realised mixing skittles and vodka would be shit for my body’ Vardy.
In all fairness, Vardy has worked his way to the top too. He might not be a good guy but gotta admire his hard work
Yeah sorry, I should have been clearer haha. I was trying to suggest that Lucas was a better Vardy, because wasn’t an absolute bellend ?
This is Arsenal
Love the “Lucas stats” towards the end, says quite a lot really – but not quite all of it. I also like the way he fights for possession and works hard off the ball.
I like the stats page!
You just know Lucas will be pushing other players in training, because if he gets in to the starting XI and performs like he did on wednesday night (which seems likely) then he can’t really be dropped.
Re. the stats page; just an idea, but maybe you could add two columns, one that averages readers’ player ratings over the course of the season and one that averages your own ratings, would be interesting to see where they were at the end of the season.
Have to say I hadn’t seen the stats page before. It’s a good one.
It is awesome to finally have a stats page.
One thing that always bothered me about most sites with stats is putting YC and RC stats on a main table, with goals and assists. I just don’t think the vast majority of fans care much how many YCs and RCs our players have.
I would much prefer some Key Passes or Tackles columns. Get the cards out of there because they just get in the way. And I don’t mean add more columns, just take out those two. My two cents!
Cards are an important thing to consider because they tell us something about a player’s discipline. We can’t measure those key stats, this is done manually – but check out Squawka for those in-depth ones.
let us see his performance again in the next EFL cup in the mid week
Great player super sub speed and accuracy what a signing most importantly team spirit #4revergooner
I think you’re missing the point(s).
I’m sure he will protest if Wenger decides that he should replace Cech though
Is it just me or do all our players seem like they have their heads screwed on this season? So many years of just talking about what great team spirit we have, which always makes me doubt it – now we are proving it.
Those r impressive stats for perez.
Fantastic to read, sounds a decent fella who apppreciates the privileged position as a pro footballer.
And there is no doubt we will need him to play a vital part as the season develops!
Great Chap!
More to follow..
COYG!
What a great time to be alive and be a Gunner! It’s like I’m re-living the period 2001-2005! Except this time I’m many stones heavier with a bulging abdomen and all I can assist a football team is shout out! 🙂
“He says that he has been following me for a long time and that he likes me” – is that a yes?
Does Gibbs have an agent? I’ve never heard noises about him wanting to get minutes elsewhere. Consumate professional who would be first choice at 75pc of other League clubs but fights for his place whenever the opportunity avails itself.
It’s a long season and he will surely get starts at least the weeks when we have a midweek fixture. He can also play with Giroud which increases his chances of making he first eleven. Impressive stats this far and a really good attitude and work rate.
For ad long as I can remember, there hasn’t been this much genuine competition for places and this I believe to be recent surge in quality and long may it continue.
He looks a good winger actually, good with the crosses. Lots of pace. Not sure how much time he will get at CF with Alexis playing there.
Would like to see Lucas, Theo and Alexis up top at some point, that could be interesting …
I hope his trajectory will be more like Monreal’s than Park’s. Not getting a start in the beginning, buckling down, fighting hard and eventually winning Wenger’s trust and our love.
2 goals and 2 assists so far. Not a bad start already. He seems a player who keeps his head up when he plays and waits till last minute to make the final decision. I think he will make an impact soon. Again Wenger has bought well. All these people try not to mention that Wenger has been spot on this summer with Mustafi, Granit (and early panic buy), and looks like he has gems in Holding and Lucas. General punditry will instead tell you say David Luiz was a good buy go figure. The other thing is all these… Read more »
Lucas has all the qualities to make it as a winger in the team. His time in the team would definitely come. Patience, Lucas, patience.