Lucas Perez earned his second start for Arsenal this season and scored a double to help the Gunners clinch an easy 4-0 victory over Championship side Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.
Perez who joined Arsenal this summer from Deportivo for a transfer fee of £17million, scored his first two goals for the club after he was given a start ahead of Oliver Giroud, who is recovering a toe injury.
New £30million summer signing Granit Xhaka opened the scoring for the Gunners in the 23rd minute from another scintillating long range effort, just days after scoring his first goal for Arsenal from a venomous effort from distance against Hull City in Premier League.
Perez doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 60th minute after scoring from the penalty spot. Arsenal earned the spot kick after Akpom was nudged off the ball by Mancienne. Perez made no mistake and scored his first from a left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
11 minutes later Perez scored his second in the game and put the game to bed for Arsenal. Akpom whipped in a through ball to pick Perez, who rounded the goalkeeper Dragan Stojkovic before rolling the ball into the back of the net.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored the fourth from a Perez assist in injury-time, on what was a comfortable night for the Gunners.
“It was a convincing performance with some young players playing well and Perez scored as well, so overall it was a positive night,” said Arsenal boss Wenger.
“I was particularly happy with his (Perez)second goal because he not only showed good technique but also great determination to fight for the ball and I also liked the role he played in the goal for Oxlade-Chamberlain.”
