Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was left delighted with Lucas Perez’s display in his side’s 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
The Spaniard joined the Gunners from Deportivo La Coruna in a deal worth £17.1m ahead of the transfer deadline last month, as noted by BBC Sport, with many raised eyebrows over whether or not he was the signing that Arsenal needed.
After a slow start, the 27-year-old got off the mark with a double against Forest, with his second goal showing many positive signs as he showed good composure and strength to help wrap up the impressive win.
In turn, it’s no surprise that Wenger was pleased with what he saw, and he will undoubtedly be hoping for more of the same as Arsenal continue to build some momentum and put together a strong winning run.
“He has shown what I expected from him,” Wenger told Sky Sports.
“He has shown he works hard for the team and he can score goals but he has shown he can also be a team player, especially for the fourth goal that Oxlade-Chamberlain scored. He played a big part in that.
“I’m very pleased with the effort he put in and with the quality he showed.”
Arsenal are now unbeaten since their opening-weekend loss to Liverpool, scoring eight goals in their last two outings at Hull and Forest respectively.
However, they will be tested significantly this weekend when they host old rivals Chelsea at the Emirates, with Wenger hoping to do better against their London foes than in recent years as he prepares to lock horns with Antonio Conte.
Perez’s form will certainly be another boost for the French tactician, but his summer signing will have to show consistency and score regularly to earn himself higher praise, as it’s an issue that has blighted others in the current squad for too long.