Arsenal weighing up option to send Lucas Perez on January loan

With Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud to contend with, life was always going to be difficult for Lucas Perez after his £17m signing from Deportivo to Arsenal. And according to today’s press, Arsene Wenger could be ready to send the Spaniard packing. Temporarily.

With Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny away at Bournemouth and Roma respectively, Wenger isn’t shy about sending his first teamers on loan.

Perez could be next in line, after making a slow start to life in north London.

A couple of goals in the EFL Cup aside, the forward has struggled to make an impact, a situation not helped by the form of Alexis Sanchez in the central forward role.

And with Olivier Giroud back from injury and already making an impact with goals versus Sunderland and Manchester United, Perez is firmly in third place.

And Danny Welbeck could be set to further prolong Perez’s Emirates exile with the England international possibly on course for a Christmas comeback.

Perez fired in 17 goals in 36 La Liga games for Depor last term, and his stats for Arsenal really aren’t as bad as they seem.

In total, the 28-year-old has three goals and four assists from seven appearances, with an ankle injury ruling him out for the past four weeks.

The problem is simply a lack of expected game-time, with the striker featuring for just 25 Premier League minutes since an opening day debut.

But Wenger will doubtless have one eye on the progress of Welbeck, while any injuries to Sanchez or Giroud will likely ensure Perez sticks around in north London for a little while yet.

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