Ex-Arsenal flop Lucas Perez scores brace on dream return to Deportivo La Coruna

Former Arsenal forward Lucas Perez had a dream return to Deportivo La Coruna after scoring a brace in his first game back. 

The Spaniard recently secured a return to the third-division club – having left to join Arsenal in 2016 – by reportedly paying part of his own transfer fee to leave LaLiga side Cadiz. 

Perez, 34, re-signed for Deportivo on a one-and-a-half year deal and has already kick-started his return in emphatic fashion with a brace on his debut.

Former Arsenal forward Lucas Perez enjoyed a sensational return to Deportivo La Coruna

The Spaniard scored a brace in his first game back with the third-division Spanish side

Perez went round the Salamanca goalkeeper to open the scoring just after half-time

The ex-West Ham striker made his return in Deportivo’s league clash against Unionistas de Salamanca on Sunday night – after paying part of the £440,000 (€500,000) transfer fee set by Cadiz in summer.

After a goalless first-half, Perez needed just three minutes to break the deadlock with a brilliantly-taken goal. With a neat touch, he went round the goalkeeper and tapped the ball into an empty net. 

He doubled his tally for the night, deep into added time, after receiving the ball inside the penalty area and calmly placing his shot past the Salamanca goalkeeper. 

Speaking after the game, Perez said: ‘It was special I’m going back home, to the Riazor. What I liked the most was the atmosphere, it was incredible. 

Perez got his second of the night, in added time, after getting the ball in the penalty area

He dispatched his effort in emphatic fashion to double his tally upon his homecoming

He wheeled away in celebration before kissing the Deportiva La Coruna badge 

‘It’s what we want, for it to be a party and for the fans to take us on flying, as it has been. All day they were cheering and it gives us wings to continue and achieve the goal.’

Since leaving for Arsenal, the Blue and Whites were relegated from Spain’s premier division in 2018 and, after spending two seasons in the second tier, they were then relegated again to Primera Federacion.

Perez has racked up 96 appearances for the Galician side across three different spells, including a loan spell while he was at Arsenal.

The Spaniard struggled to adapt to life in England where in three seasons he scored just seven goals for Arsenal and six for West Ham. 

The Spaniard struggled to adapt to life in England and scored just seven goals for Arsenal