‘Arsene Wenger act was final straw for me at Arsenal – I felt cheated by ugly gesture’

Former Arsenal striker Lucas Perez is celebrating his 36th birthday today – but received an unwanted parting gift from the Gunners. Perez took an unusual route to the Premier League, enjoying spells in Ukraine and Greece before finally impressing with boyhood club Deportivo La Coruna in La Liga.

His standout season in 2015/16, boasting 27 goal contributions in 36 matches, sparked interest from Arsene Wenger, and Arsenal forked out £17million to bring their new number nine to the Emirates Stadium. On this day in 2016, Perez celebrated his birthday and Arsenal debut with an assist against Southampton, but joyous moments were scarce for Perez in north London as he would only start one more league game for the Gunners.

Feeling sidelined, Perez eyed an exit by January, but his request was rebuffed. In the summer of 2017, the Spanish striker argued that Arsenal had burned all their bridges by handing Alexandre Lacazette his number nine shirt upon signing from Lyon without warning him.

In a candid interview with La Voz De Galicia at the time, Perez said: “I feel cheated. In February I was not allowed to leave for a move to China with the promise that I would play more and after that I had even fewer opportunities. But the shirt number is an ugly gesture.

“On our pre-season trip, Lacazette asked the boss and he accepted. I was only told afterwards. Last year [Wenger] told me that he understood why I was upset. I think this season things will get worse, so help me out.”

Perez didn’t hide his desire to leave Arsenal and expressed his wish to return to Coruna. “Since I have been a professional footballer, I’ve felt happiest in Deportivo, surrounded by my family and my friends,” he said. “Put yourself in my place.

“I know I have chances to play for the national team and at the World Cup. But for that I have to play and I have to be happy. That’s why I want to go back to Coruna. Arsenal are not behaving well with me.

“To take the shirt number without telling me and to give it to a companion – it seems to me that it is the last straw. I can’t continue this way. I have given everything, but that has not been reciprocated, so I can’t stand it any longer. I want to leave and be happy.”

Perez got his wish and sealed a loan move back to Deportivo, but was sold to West Ham a year later. His sole season with the Hammers saw him score six goals before returning to La Liga with Alaves in 2019. Spells at Elche and Cadiz kept Perez in the top flight – but the striker’s heart lay elsewhere.

In December 2022, Perez demonstrated his deep love for Deportivo by agreeing to play in the Spanish third tier. Rather than being a big-money money move, it cost Perez €493,000 out of his own pocket to be released from his Cadiz contract.

He was instrumental in guiding the club to promotion last season, even scoring the decisive goal. Perez registered 15 goals and 19 assists in 33 games as Deportivo returned to the Segunda Division as champions.