Wenger: How I’m looking at Lucas Perez now

Arsene Wenger has not hidden his appreciation for Lucas Perez’s performance against FC Basel on Tuesday.

The Spaniard, who scored his first goals for the club against Nottingham Forest in September, has been a peripheral figure so far at Arsenal following his move from Deportivo La Coruna.

However, Perez was handed a rare start in the Champions League as Wenger continued to rotate his various attacking options.

That decision from the Arsenal manager paid off as the former La Liga star went on to score a memorable hat-trick at St. Jakob-Park.

And according to Wenger, Perez has done enough to prove he is capable of being someone the Gunners can rely on to score goals.

“The first two looked like quite easy goals, and were what we call tap-ins in England, but they were created by the team and you have to be there to finish.” the Arsenal manager said after the win over Basel

“The first goal is a real striker’s goal. He scored more than 20 goals in Spain last season and he has shown why. He has an eye for goal and good movement in the box, which is why he scores.”