Arsene Wenger has called on new players Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi to be given time to adjust to their new climes in North London.
The pair were landed from La Liga outfits Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia respectively close to the end of the transfer window in a bid to strengthen the Gunners’ contingent.
Both Perez and Mustafi started in Arsenal’s 2-1 Premier League win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The German centre-half looked solid alongside Laurent Koscielny and adds much-needed physicality to the North London side’s rearguard.
Perez offers a different threat to Arsenal’s other number nine option Olivier Giroud but looked leggy in the late victory over the Saints, making a minimal impact.
Wenger has stressed that both players were quality additions but they needed time to adjust to the pace of the game in England and to playing alongside a new team.
“Let’s give [him] time,” Wenger said of Perez to the club’s official website.
“We have scored goals since the start of the season, but we bought one more striker because we thought we needed one more. Let’s give him time and not judge him too quickly.
“I think he got 17 goals last year. In the second half, I think he combined much better. It is not easy as well to start at home, the pressure is there for everybody and everybody has their eyes on them.
“You could see that especially with [Shkodran] Mustafi, because in the second half he was much more comfortable than in the first.”
