PSV Eindhoven have interestingly signed former Arsenal striker Lucas Perez ahead of their Champions League clash with the Gunners.
Perez was a free agent after Deportivo La Coruna agreed to cancel his contract for personal reasons last month. PSV have signed the 36-year-old on a short-term deal until the end of the season, having been impressed by his performances in the Spanish second tier, with Perez scoring and assisting four goals apiece in 19 league games.
PSV progressed to the Champions League round of 16 after defeating Juventus 4-3 on aggregate in the play-offs. Peter Bosz's side were rewarded with a tie against Arsenal, who had already booked their place in the next round after finishing third in the league phase.
Arsenal signed Perez from Deportivo for £17million in 2016, but the striker failed to make much of an impact and was loaned back to the Spanish side before being sold to West Ham in 2018. Now, the striker will have an eye on the Champions League tie next month, with Arsenal potentially looking to salvage their season by progressing in Europe.
"I can't wait to show myself to the fans and my new team-mates. I am very ambitious and am looking forward to delivering many goals and assists,” Perez said after signing for PSV.
"My first impression of the club is very good, I get energy from the people I have already met. PSV were on top of it right away and did everything they could to bring me to Eindhoven.
"That did me a lot of good. Unfortunately, it took a bit longer than planned before a final agreement was reached, due to personal reasons on my part. I found a solution for that and I am very grateful for the fact that the PSV management remained so patient."
Fortunately for Arsenal, Perez won’t be able to score against his old side as he joined PSV after the February deadline for clubs to register their squads – but he will more than likely be in attendance for the reunion with his former club.
Despite his time in north London being cut short, Perez was effective at times in an Arsenal shirt, registering seven goals and five assists in 21 games, including a Champions League hat-trick against FC Basel in 2016. He was slightly less prolific after his £4m move to West Ham in 2019, scoring six in 19 games.
Perez's route back to top-flight football with PSV seemed unlikely following his emotional return to Deportivo in December 2022. Perez paid £408,000 (€493,000) to be released from his Cadiz contract, dropping down from La Liga to help his boyhood club after their relegation to the Spanish third tier.
Deportivo won the title and earned promotion to the Segunda in 2024, with Perez recording 35 goal contributions in as many games last season. However, his focus is now on winning major honours in the Netherlands.
"I am extremely driven to help this club achieve its other objectives, including winning the national title and national cup,” Perez said. "I have worked very hard in recent weeks, both on and off the field. I am more than ready to prove myself here."
The first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie between Arsenal and PSV will be held at the Philips Stadion on Tuesday, March 4. The Gunners will host the return leg at the Emirates on Wednesday, March 12.
It will be interesting to see who Mikel Arteta opts for up top when Arsenal go to the Netherlands, as they remain desperately short of options due to injuries and their failure to bring in a striker during the January transfer window.
Mikel Merino didn't impress in the No.9 role in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to West Ham, while Raheem Sterling has also proven he's not up to the level required now either to deputise there. That leaves Leandro Trossard, who struggled in the position away at Leicester, for the time being, with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the season.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are not set to be back fit in time for the trip as they continue their recovery from hamstring injuries.