Wednesday 7 September 2016 16:19, UK
Arsenal's signing of Lucas Perez represents a shift in thinking. Arsene Wenger clearly wants a different type of forward but the challenge now is for him to fit in, writes Adam Bate.
Arsene Wenger often gives the impression that his ideas about the game crystallised some time ago. He's been forced, for example, to begrudgingly accept that his predictions about the bursting of the transfer bubble have not yet come to fruition.
However, nobody could ignore the lessons of Leicester's success last season. For some, it was their tactical nous given the use of 4-4-2 and the counter-attack. For others, there was the example of their savvy scouting, with Steve Walsh subsequently poached by Everton.
But Wenger is a coach who has always been keen to talk of his team's hunger and mental strength, even when such qualities have not been immediately apparent to those outside of the dressing room. It's this that he was drawn to in Leicester and has been keen to add.
Consider his praise of Alexis Sanchez. "Sometimes he finishes and you think, 'He's dead now'," said Wenger. "But then he recovers and gives 100 per cent again. You always see signs of exhaustion but it's not, because two days later he's fine. His style is very explosive.
"Jamie Vardy is a bit similar. They go when they go. They are like the lion. He has to catch the animal in the first 200 metres. If he doesn't get there, after, he's dead. They are these kind of killers. When they go, it is to kill and after they have to stop."
With Wenger unable to persuade Vardy to join Arsenal, the signing of Lucas Perez is a logical alternative. Like the Leicester man, his 17 La Liga goals for Deportivo La Coruna last season put him among his division's top scorers, but the finishing was only part of the story.
A pest of a player, harrying opponents has become a Lucas trademark. Alexandre Centeno of La Voz de Galicia calls him "el nino de la calle" - the kid off the street. His goal against Atletico Madrid in October, in which he robbed Jose Gimenez, was symbolic of his appetite.
He's not only a goalscorer. He's a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs.
"He's not only a goalscorer," said Wenger upon the confirmation of Lucas's signing. "He's a guy who combines well with partners, who can give a final ball and makes good runs. He's got a good eye for goal and had an outstanding season last year."
But it'll be interesting to see whether a player who turns 28 this month can adapt to Arsenal's approach, especially when the differences appear huge. For while Lucas might be the natural next choice after Vardy, he's not necessarily a natural fit for the Gunners.
The Spaniard thrives on fast breaks and has picked up plenty of goals from squared passes tapped into the net or one-on-one finishes having used his pace to get away from defences. His goals at Villarreal and Levante relied upon catching out teams playing a very high line.
Part of the reason why Vardy did not push through his Arsenal move was understood to be due to concerns over whether they would play to his strengths. The opportunities to score these types of goals are not so plentiful at Arsenal as they are at Deportivo or Leicester.
Claudio Ranieri's men scored the most goals on the counter-attack in the Premier League last term and likewise there was no team in La Liga who scored more goals on the counter-attack than Deportivo in 2015/16. Both sides are happy to look for the ball over the top.
Deportivo hit an average of 81 long balls per game last season, more than any top-flight team in England. In contrast, Arsenal were at the other end of the spectrum. They ranked bottom of the Premier League for long balls - averaging only 49 of them per game.
As a result, Lucas can expect much more focus on slower build-up and possession play. While Depor ranked among the bottom half of La Liga for short passes, Arsenal played more short passes per game - 513 - than any Premier League side in 2015/16.
The likelihood is that this will test his technique by increasing his involvement on the ball, but potentially limit his opportunities to get in behind defences. Galicia-based journalist Carlos Rosende knows Lucas well and feels it will be a challenge.
"He's got great mental strength and his work rate is reminiscent of Sanchez," Rosende tells Sky Sports. "He is also very fast on the counter and the hope will be that he can develop an understanding with Mesut Ozil. But in my opinion, he will have to adapt to the style of play."
And yet, perhaps it's Arsenal that should adapt to Lucas. As Wenger looks to add that certain something that's been missing, he appears to have identified extra pace and purpose in attack as being vital. Embracing a bit of the Lucas way could be best for everyone.
