Arsenal spent quite a lot of money on bringing the 29 year-old Lucas Perez into the squad at the end of the transfer window, and everybody (the fans anyway) thought that he was to be challenging Olivier Giroud for the central striker position, but it would appear we were all wrong!
During the celebrations to commemorate Arsene’s 20 years with the Gunners, Le Prof had an interview with Thierry Henry on Sky Sports, and it appears that he had already decided at the end of last season to move Alexis Sanchez into the middle. Recently he also told us that he expected a new improved Theo Walcott this season, and with Theo and Alexis scoring 5 goals each so far, it would seem that Olivier Giroud cannot get a place in the team, never mind Lucas!
This is what Wenger said to Henry: “First of all I had big competition up front. I thought Welbeck could play there, Giroud was playing there with different qualities and I reflected for a long time at the end of the season.
“I decided to try Sanchez [up front]. He has similarities with Luis Suarez.
“At the start many people questioned that decision.”
“I must say the few times I tried him before, he was not convincing in this position,”
“You start to think is that a wrong decision or do I have to give him more time?
“In the first two games I was not completely convinced but know, game after game, he’s growing into this position and getting better and better.
“Where he’s strong is that he can dribble, finish and he can also give a final ball.”
“I’ve always thought he has the attributes to bring something different to the team because he has a different style of play.
“And what I like with him is he can see a pass too. That’s very important too.”
So he talks about Sanchez, Welbeck and Giroud, but not a mention of our new signing. So if Alexis and Walcott (and Iwobi) are our first choice front men, and we also have the Ox, Giroud and Ramsey in reserve (and maybe Akpom and Jeff as well), where exactly does Lucas fit into Wenger’s thoughts?
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