Arsene Wenger admits Lucas Perez deserves more playing time after Arsenal transfer speculation

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted Lucas Perez deserves more opportunities after scoring in his side’s FA Cup win over Sutton United.

Lucas scored in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-0 fifth round win at Gander Green Lane and was an impressive figure at the tip of the visitors’ attack.

The Spanish international’s future was the subject of sustained speculation on Monday, with comments attributed to his agent suggesting he was planning on leaving the club he joined from Deportivo La Coruna for £17million in August.

Whilst Rodgrigo Fernandez Lovelle denied making any such statement he did admit that Lucas was “not happy” when he did not play, the Spaniard having notched up just 249 minutes of Premier League football.

“He is pushing on the door but I have many strikers,” Wenger said.

“I have Giroud, Welbeck ,Walcott, Sanchez and Perez. It is true that he deserves a go because he scores goals and is a good player.”

Lucas has averaged a goal every 122 minutes for Arsenal in all competitions this season and netted his first hat-trick for the club in a Champions League win in Basel.