Lucas Perez’s Arsenal future seemed to come to an end last summer, and a year later he still seems closer to a move than rejoining the Gunners’ squad, but perhaps the club should convince him to reconsider.

Perez spent the last year on loan to Deportivo La Coruna, where he didn’t always have an easy time. The Spanish side ended up getting relegated, and during the middle period of the season the striker really struggled to get goals.

As a result, the expectation was that Perez would leave Arsenal this summer. Lazio showed an interest, and the Spaniard’s agent admitted his client liked the idea, but needed to talk to his parent club first.

However, looking back at the campaign now, Lucas didn’t do that badly, considering the circumstances. Nine goals and eight assists for the 18th placed side is a decent achievement, but it’s in chances created that he truly excelled.

The 29-year-old made 79 key passes across the course of the season, a total second only to Lionel Messi in La Liga. We saw glimpses of that creativity with Arsenal in 2016/17, but the forward never got the opportunity to show it regularly.

If he can put up numbers that even challenge Messi creatively, playing for one of the worst teams in the league, it’s surely worth seeing what he can do in pre-season with Arsenal. Give him a chance in the new team, and maybe he’ll surprise us.

Arsene Wenger is gone, so any grudge Perez might have held over game time should leave with the manager.

The idea of Perez on the right, Lacazette in the middle and Aubameyang on the left is an exciting prospect on paper. Especially with Mesut Özil in behind. The club have nothing to lose, and they can still choose to sell him on afterwards if it doesn’t work.

It’s worth a shot.