Former Arsenal Star feels betrayed by Arsene Wenger during his time at Arsenal and now seeks to defeat his former club.

Arsenal is set to face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16, and the match has a subplot worthy of a Hollywood drama.  

Former Arsenal striker, Lucas Perez, now playing for PSV, is eager to get one over on his old club – a club where he feels he was deeply wronged. 

Perez’s move to Arsenal in 2016 was supposed to be a dream come true. After a prolific season with Deportivo La Coruna, the £17m signing arrived with high expectations. However, his time at the Emirates quickly turned into a nightmare.  

Limited playing time, a single Premier League goal, and being relegated down the pecking order behind the likes of Lacazette, Giroud, and Aubameyang made his situation untenable. 

But the real insult, the one that truly ignited Perez’s fury, was the manner in which he lost his number nine shirt.  

Without any prior warning, the number was handed to new signing Alexandre Lacazette. This perceived act of disrespect left Perez feeling “cheated,” as he expressed in an interview with La Voz De Galicia at the time. 

“I feel cheated,” Perez stated. He detailed broken promises of more playing time, his blocked move to China, and the final straw of the shirt number incident. “To take the shirt number without telling me and to give it to a companion – it seems to me that it is the last straw. I can’t continue this way. I have given everything, but that has not been reciprocated, so I can’t stand it any longer. I want to leave and be happy.” 

Perez eventually got his wish, returning to Deportivo on loan before stints at West Ham, Alaves, Elche, and Cadiz. He even enjoyed a fourth spell with Deportivo, helping them achieve promotion last season. 1 His career has been a journeyman’s path since his ill-fated spell in North London.    

While Perez won’t be on the pitch due to a missed registration deadline, his presence will undoubtedly be felt. He’ll be sharing his insights on Arsenal’s weaknesses and tactics with his PSV teammates, fueling their desire to pull off an upset.  

He’ll be living vicariously through them, hoping they can deliver the revenge he so desperately craves. This Champions League clash isn’t just a game for Lucas Perez; it’s a chance to settle old scores. Will PSV be able to deliver the victory Perez so desires?  

Football can be a game of redemption, and this match presents Perez with a unique opportunity to exact his revenge on the club that he believes betrayed him.