Lucas Perez thanks Arsenal for allowing Deportivo return

Lucas Perez has thanked Arsenal for allowing him to return to Deportivo, admitting is was where he always wanted to be.

Perez joined the Gunners last summer from Deportivo in a move worth around £17million, but received few opportunities to break into the first team under Arsene Wenger.

He started only a handful of games in his first season, then had the No 9 shirt taken off him to give to new signing Alexandre Lacazette.

The underhand nature of that decision angered Perez, but he has offered an olive branch to Arsenal after being allowed to return to Deportivo on loan.

“I’m where I want to be,” he said. “I have a right to decide what is going to happen with my future and what I want to do.

“Arsenal understood that and I’m grateful to them. They understood my situation and the fact that I wanted to return home.

“Arsenal defended their own interests, they initially didn’t want me to return to Deportivo.

“They have reached agreements with many clubs but I clearly told them that my intention was to join Depor and no other alternative.”