It seems as if the stories of Arsenal swooping in to snatch Lucas Perez from Everton have more than a dollop of truth to them as the Gunners moved late for a player they had been watching since last season.

After a number of days of negotiations, Everton had struck an agreement with Deportivo la Coruna for the €20m required (or, as we showed, the €35m) and offered the player a contract which he found acceptable.

Then Arsenal arrived on the scene on Wednesday last week (24th). This was followed by ‘intensive negotiations’ that culminated in a medical at the club on Friday and the announcement this week.

Despite watching Perez last season and receiving positive reports, Arsene Wenger did not make a move for him until last week, hinting that the boss, perhaps, was holding out for a more high profile player.

For Perez, he thought Arsenal were the perfect club at which to continue his career and did not hesitate to accept. ” I wanted to play dressed in red and will,” he said.

It is claimed that Arsenal were a ‘preferred option’ for the player should they call. Had they not, it is likely he would have went to Everton.

Arsenal did, and the rest, as they say, is recent history.

Sorry, Toffees!