Lucas Perez blasts ‘cheating’ Wenger for giving his No.9 shirt to Lacazette

Arsenal striker, Lucas Perez, has hit out at Arsene Wenger over his lack of playing time last season and says he feel “cheated” by his treatment and the “ugly gesture” of giving his No.9 shirt to new boy, Alexandre Lacazette.

Perez, who arrived last summer for £17 million, has also made it clear that he wants to return to Deportivo La Coruna, as a World Cup year approaches.

“I want to leave, to play and be happy,” Perez is quoted by La Voz de Galicia, as saying to Arsenal’s transfer negotiator Dick Law.

“Last year I barely had any opportunities and when I had them I took advantage of them. And this season is clearly going to be more of the same.
“I want to fight to go to the national team. I want to play football, but for that I have to leave. And I think that the best place for me is at home, with Dépor.”

Perez scored seven goals for the Gunners last term and made just 11 Premier League appearances.

“They [Arsenal] are not behaving well with me,” Perez reportedly told Law.

“The thing of taking the shirt number without telling me to give it to a companion, it seems to me the last straw.

“I cannot continue this way. I have given everything, but that has not been reciprocated, so I can’t stand it any longer. I feel cheated. In February I was not allowed to leave for 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 the trip, Lacazette asked the boss and he accepted. Afterwards, he told me. Last year he [Wenger] told me that he understood that I was upset. I think this season things will get worse, so help me out.

“Since I have been a professional footballer, I’ve felt happiest in Deportivo, surrounded by my family, my friends. Put yourself in my place. I know I have chances to go to the national team. To play the World Cup. A dream. But for that I have to play and I have to be happy. That’s why I want to go back to Coruña.”