Lucas Perez: I feel cheated by Arsenal

Perez now wants to return to Deportivo La Coruna, who are reported to have bid €10m - half as much as Arsenal paid for him last summer.

The 28-year-old striker told La Voz De Galicia:

“I feel cheated. In February I was not allowed to leave for a move to 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 (new signing Alexandre Lacazette was given his number 9 shirt). On our pre-season trip, Lacazette asked the boss and he accepted. I was only told afterwards.

Perez feels pessimistic about his chances to play first team football, and to claim a World Cup spot in 2018, if he remains at Arsenal:

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

“Since I have been a professional footballer, I've felt happiest in Deportivo, surrounded by my family and my friends. Put yourself in my place.

“I know I have chances to play for the national team and at the World Cup. But for that I have to play and I have to be happy. That's why I want to go back to Coruna.

“Arsenal are not behaving well with me. 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.”