Lucas Perez faces up to six weeks out of action after suffering ankle ligament damage during Arsenal’s 2-0 EFL Cup win over Reading.
The Spaniard earned his third Gunners start against Reading on Tuesday, but limped off the pitch in the 72nd minute following a strong challenge by Danzell Gravenberch. Lucas was eventually replaced by youth product Chris Willock.
Arsenal’s Lucas Perez Out For Six Weeks
Perez’s injury means he will be out until December. He misses not only UEFA Champions League meetings with Ludogorets and Paris Saint-Germain, but also tough league games against Tottenham, Manchester United and Bournemouth. The Gunners lie second in both the Premier League and their respective Champions League group.
Lucas Perez, 28, has already scored two goals for Arsenal during a 4-0 EPL Cup triumph over Nottingham Forest. Mainly used as a substitute thus far, he has contributed key assists on the pitch, most notably two assists for Mesut Özil against Ludogorets.
Signed from Deportivo La Coruna for £17.1 million, Lucas has already made three league appearances. An ankle injury delays his bid to become an integral striker for the North London side.
Arsene Wenger recently spoke of how he hoped the Spaniard will fight for a starting place: “I believe he has the potential to be a great player for us.”
“In training he continues to show he has the potential to play. He now has to transfer that into the games and the more he does that – against Reading he has an opportunity – the more we will be tempted to say, ‘let’s do it’.”
Wenger will be boosted by Oliver Giroud’s return to fitness after he appeared as a second-half substitute on Tuesday night. His side advanced to the quarterfinals of the EFL Cup and will host Southampton on November 29th.
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