On the opening weekend of LaLiga, Deportivo La Coruna were left bemoaning a lack of cutting edge against Real Madrid. Lone striker Florin Andone could only strike the body of Keylor Navas with two early one-on-one opportunities before the same man was denied from the penalty spot by the Costa Rican goalkeeper. Lucas Perez’s mooted return could not come quickly enough.
And yet, the deal stalled. Long enough for a few rumours to circulate regarding Levante’s interest in snatching the Spaniard on a loan deal, despite Pepe Mel having previously explained to the media that his club president Tino Fernandez had promised him the return of the 28-year-old forward. Last season, Depor managed to squeeze their way to safety, but it was a little uncomfortable for their liking - the return of their talismanic striker would remedy that.
At Arsenal, Lucas found it tough, with his opportunities to impress fleeting. Just nine starts for the Gunners tell the story, with a Champions League hat trick being the all-too-brief suggestion that he had the ability to cut his teeth at a club where expectations were incredibly high. As he wandered through airport arrivals in Galicia, having touched down on a flight that was taking him home, back to where he was born, it was immediately clear that he would have a much healthier environment within which to get back on track.
"Sí, sí, sí, Lucas es aqui,” chanted the crowd. Lucas is here. Just as he needs their support to find his form again on the pitch, they believe that he can make their clamber to LaLiga safety all the easier. During the 2016/2017 campaign, Depor scored just 43 goals across 38 matchdays, a total that only five teams failed to surpass. Three of them were relegated. His sale to Arsenal was to greatly benefit to the club financially, but it ensured a step backwards on sporting and entertainment levels.
The previous season, under the guidance of Victor Sanchez, their goal tally stood at 45 in LaLiga, but Lucas netted 17 of them. Much of the unit which helped him to that impressive figure, which was manipulated to form a rather drab combination under Gaizka Garitano, remains. Florin Andone has since stepped up to take on more goalscoring responsibility, with Fede Cartabia set to shoulder more of the burden too, but there are plenty of familiar faces with which Lucas can harmonise anew.
Fabian Schar is a strong addition at centre back, with young loanee Fede Valverde capable of making a difference in central midfield. Adrian Lopez and Zakaria Bakkali offer more offensive options after signings on loan deals. Securing Lucas Perez is the icing on the cake, but it was a vital deal to get over the line.
The 28-year-old forward offers plenty of options for Pepe Mel. He is comfortable as a second striker, up top at the point of the attack, or even out wide with license to drift in and affect the game more centrally. Alongside Andone, who is tenacious, hard working and prepared to put in plenty of running across the course of 90 minutes, he has someone that can put in the effort to counterbalance any individual freedom that Depor choose to give him.
Deportivo had one guaranteed source of goals for the season in Andone, but their inability to hit the back of the net against Real Madrid highlighted that reliance on one individual is a risk when the threat of potential relegation is hanging over them at Riazor. Lucas Perez shares that burden, and already possesses goalscoring pedigree in Primera.
Goals are required, but Lucas Perez’s arrival goes beyond that. He has a connection with the fans and the city, he is the morale boost and lift that the club needed as a whole. He represents more than just what he can offer with the ball at his feet with the opposition goalkeeper in sight, he is a symbol that easier and ultimately more exciting times could be on the horizon.
At the Emirates, there was no sense of this connection, it was simply business. At Depor, it is more than that, and the only outcome can be success.
