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'I feel cheated'

Lucas Perez slams Arsene Wenger for handing Alexandre Lacazette his Arsenal No 9 shirt and wants Spain return

Gunners striker says 'ugly gesture' was the final straw as he hopes to return to Deportivo, according to reports in Spain

LUCAS PEREZ wants out at Arsenal - as the 'ugly gesture' of losing his No 9 shirt to new boy Alexandre Lacazette without consultation was the 'final straw'.

The Spanish striker hopes to rejoin Deportivo for regular football and to boost his international chances, according to La Voz de Galicia.

 Lucas Perez reportedly wants to return to Spain to boost his international chances
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Lucas Perez reportedly wants to return to Spain to boost his international chancesCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Alexandre Lacazette, seen training with Mesut Ozil, will expect to be the Arsenal main man in attack this season, putting pressure on strike rivals like Lucas Perez
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Alexandre Lacazette, seen training with Mesut Ozil, will expect to be the Arsenal main man in attack this season, putting pressure on strike rivals like Lucas PerezCredit: Reuters

The Spanish website quote Perez as telling them:  “They [Arsenal] are not behaving well with me.

"The thing of taking the shirt number without telling me to give it to a companion. It seems to me the last straw.

“I can not continue this way. I have given everything, but that has not been reciprocated, so I can’t stand it any longer.

“I feel cheated. In February I was not allowed to leave for China with the promise that I would play more and after that I had even fewer opportunities.

“But the shirt number is an ugly gesture. On the trip, Lacazette asked the boss and he accepted. Afterwards, he told me.

“Last year he [Wenger] told me that he understood that I was upset. I think this season things will get worse, so help me out."

 Lucas Perez says he showed last season he was up the job - but had few chances
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Lucas Perez says he showed last season he was up the job - but had few chancesCredit: Getty Images
 Ex-Deportiveo frontman Lucas Perez is hungry for more regular football
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Ex-Deportiveo frontman Lucas Perez is hungry for more regular footballCredit: Reuters

The 28-year-old was left out of the Gunners' pre-season tour of Australia and China after playing just 11 Premier League games last term.

Now La Voz de Galicia report him as saying: "I want to leave to play and be happy.

"Last year I barely had any opportunities and when I had them I took advantage of them.

"I want to fight to go to the national team. I want to play football, but for that I have to leave.

“And I think that the best place for me is at home, with Depor.

 Lucas Perez believes he faces a crucial season for his international hopes
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Lucas Perez believes he faces a crucial season for his international hopesCredit: Getty Images

"Since I have been a professional footballer, I’ve felt happiest in Deportivo, surrounded by my family, my friends.

“Put yourself in my place. I know I have chances to go to the national team. To play the World Cup. A dream. But for that I have to play and I have to be happy.

“That’s why I want to go back to Coruna.”

 Manager Arsene Wenger is said to have given Alexandre Lacazette the Arsenal No 9 top without asking or consulting the previous shirt-holder Lucas Perez
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Manager Arsene Wenger is said to have given Alexandre Lacazette the Arsenal No 9 top without asking or consulting the previous shirt-holder Lucas PerezCredit: AP:Associated Press


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