PSV Eindhoven has signed former former Arsenal -striker Lucas Perez interesting for their Champions League collision with the Gunners.
Perez was a free agent after Deportivo La Coruna agreed to cancel his contract for personal reasons last month. PSV signed the 36-year-old until the end of the season for a short-term agreement, because he was impressed by his performances in the Spanish second layer, where Perez scored and helps four goals in 19 league games.
PSV went to the Champions League round of 16 after beating Juventus 4-3 aggregated in the play-offs. The side of Peter Bosz was rewarded with a draw against Arsenal, who had already booked their place in the next round after he was third in the competition phase.
Arsenal signed Perez from Deportivo for £ 17 million in 2016, but the striker was unable to have a lot of impact and was left on the Spanish side before he was sold to West Ham in 2018. Now the striker will keep an eye on the Champions League next month, with Arsenal who may want to save their season by claiming in Europe.
“I can't wait to show myself to the fans and my new teammates. I am very ambitious and look forward to delivering many goals and assists,” said Perez after drawing for PSV.
“My first impression of the club is very good, I get energy from the people I have already met. PSV was immediately on top and did everything to take me to Eindhoven.
“That did a lot to me. Unfortunately, it took a little longer than planned before a definitive agreement was reached, for personal reasons on my part. I found a solution for that and I am very grateful for the fact that the PSV remained the management like that Patient “
Fortunately for Arsenal, Perez cannot score against his old side, because after the Deadline of February he came to PSV for clubs to register their squadrons – but he will more than probably be present for the reunion with his former club.
Although his time was demolished in North London, Perez was sometimes effective in an Arsenal shirt and he registered seven goals and five assists in 21 games, including a Champions League-Trick against FC Basel in 2016. He was slightly less productive after His £ 4 million move to West Ham in 2019 and scored six in 19 games.
Perez's route back to top football with PSV seemed unlikely after his emotional return to Deportivo in December 2022. Perez paid £ 408,000 (€ 493,000) to be released from his Cadiz contract, waste from La Liga to help them after them after them relegation to the Spanish third layer.
Deportivo won the title and earned promotion to the Segunda in 2024, with Perez last season recording 35 target contributions in so many competitions. However, his focus is now on winning major awards in the Netherlands.
“I am extremely driven to help this club achieve his other objectives, including winning the national title and National Cup,” said Perez. “I have worked very hard in recent weeks, both on and outside the field. I am more than ready to prove myself here.”
The first stage of the Champions League round of 16 draw between Arsenal and PSV will be held in the Philips Stadium on Tuesday 4 March. The Gunners will organize the return bone in the Emirates on Wednesday 12 March.
It will be interesting to see who Mikel Arteta chooses at the top when Arsenal goes to the Netherlands, because they desperately fail to fall in options due to injuries and their failures to get a striker during the January transfer window.
Mikel Merino made no impression in the number 9 role in the 1-0 defeat of Saturday at home near West Ham, while Raheem Sterling has also proven that he does not need the level now to deputify there. That leaves Leandro Trossard, who was struggling in the position in Leicester for the time being, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the season.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are not set to be back on time for the trip, while they continue their recovery of hamstring injuries.
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