Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has stated that the acquisition of Lucas Perez over the summer has provided the North London club with the type of player they needed.
The Gunners were in the market for a centre forward throughout the summer window and ended up moving for the Deportivo La Coruna star in a £17 million deal.
Perez will provide competition for places in the final third with Olivier Giroud and netted his first Arsenal goals in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup on Tuesday night.
The Spaniard’s addition came only after an earlier attempt to snatch Jamie Vardy from Premier League rivals Leicester City had failed.
Smith stated that Perez looked to have number of positive qualities and was relatively similar in style to Vardy in the way he plays.
“It was good to see him causing damage through the middle because on his debut he drifted into harmless areas,” he told Sky Sports News.
“Maybe that was just a confidence thing but that will certainly boost his morale.
“He’s a strong boy, you saw that with the goal he scored. He won’t be bullied. He’s got a bit of pace about him, I don’t think he’s Jamie Vardy-like but he can run.
“He’s a contrast to what they’ve got already and that’s what they needed.”
Arsene Wenger has also played Alexis Sanchez as the furthest man forward in recent weeks and it remains to be seen if Perez will keep his starting role for the crucial clash with Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
