Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger shocked a few football fans in the summer transfer window when he decided to spend close to £50m in the last two days of the transfer window on just two players. Shkodran Mustafi, the German centre-back, who has been exceptional this season but the second acquisition, Lucas Perez, has failed to impress the manager in his few outing at the club. Currently nursing an injury, the former La Liga man, has shown some signs of adjusting to the conditions in the league but with Wenger not really happy with his returns, there are talks about him being loaned out in January. The player’s agent recently played down any such rumours of an exit but here are three reasons why Arsenal should send Lucas Perez on loan in January:
Exposure:
The 28-year old showed his goal scoring prowess in the Spanish domestic league last season scoring 18 goals and is undoubtedly a top-class striker who can lead the line for the Gunners. But at the moment, playing in his debut season at the club, Lucas has just not been able to settle into the playing style in the league and at the Emirates and has been ineffective. A loan move away from the Emirates, preferably to an English club, will allow him to learn more about the English league and can help him return to London at the end of the season as a better player. Surely the exposure from a loan deal can help him improve as a player and might justify Arsenal’s gamble on the debutant in the Premier League.
Game Time:
It is quite evident that Arsene Wenger made a last minute decision to spend on the striker in the summer. Though he has used him at times in cup competitions, Wenger has not give Perez a regular run in the squad, giving him no chance to improve, making it clear that he is not in his plans. Wenger has used Alexis Sanchez as a striker ahead of him which shows the amount of trust the manager has on the player leaving Lucas with just one option in January. With Arsenal alive in all competitions, Lucas can be a fringe player who can help the side in cup competitions but at his age, he will want to play every game, which he can only do on a loan away from Arsenal.
Understanding his role:
The Spaniard who is now back in training after the injury has played for a host of Spanish clubs in the second half of the table and has played as a main goal scoring threat for his side. However, with Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck also in the squad, Lucas is far from a first choice at the club in a strikers role, leaving him with a place on the wing. But the Spaniard has not been effective in the position and if Wenger still wants to use him there, it will be imperative that he allows the player some time to adjust to the new role. It is close to impossible for Wenger to experiment in any of his games this season leaving a loan deal as the only option for the manager to understand his best position and also understand his potential.
Do you think Lucas Perez should be sent out on Loan in January?