Lucas Perez Martinez a Viable Striking Alternative to Jamie Vardy for Arsenal

Arsenal may have finally found themselves a striker. After a summer of fruitless searching, of dead ends and rejection, the path to a new forward appears to be opening up. Arsene Wenger seems to have identified Deportivo La Coruna’s Lucas Perez Martinez as the man to strengthen his front line. 

It’s a surprising move, largely because the player appeared to be on the verge of a move to Everton. However, Arsenal have jumped ahead of the Toffees right at the last minute. Matt Law of the Telegraph reports:

Arsenal have hijacked Everton’s move to sign Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez Martinez after Gunners officials travelled to Spain to complete a deal.

Everton had agreed a £17 million fee and personal terms with the man commonly known as Lucas, but Arsenal came in at the last minute to steal the 27-year-old away.

Arsenal were on Thursday completing the formalities of the transfer in Spain with no hitches expected.

According to Law, Lucas had been identified as a potential Everton signing by their new director of football Steve Walsh. Walsh rose to prominence with his outstanding work with Leicester City over the last few seasons. If Lucas can prove to be half as effective as Riyad Mahrez or N’Golo Kante in the Premier League, Arsenal will be landing a bargain. 

The decision to move for Lucas comes after a 0-0 draw against Walsh’s old club, Leicester. It’s a familiar pattern: back in 2014, it was a blunt attacking performance at the KC Stadium that prompted the Gunners to sign Danny Welbeck. Two years on, their inability to break down the Foxes appears to have forced Wenger to consider dipping into the market again. 

Prior to the Leicester game, Wenger had been bullish about his attacking options. In his pre-match press conference, he seemed to dismiss the need for a new striker:

I believe a club like ours is focused on giving chances to the players we develop in our own club,” he added. We have a few strikers who have a chance, if we find the right players we buy.

It is not that easy – look at a club like Real Madrid, who have they bought? Up front, it is very difficult… [We have] Theo as well, it is an important season for Theo, because last year he had a difficult period. 

He can play as a striker and his numbers are excellent when he plays up front, we have Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Akpom and (Yaya) Sanogo who is …

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