Madrid - ArabToday
Lucas Perez feels "really comfortable" at Arsenal as the Spanish forward looks to help drive the team on to a positive end to the season.
Perez took his tally for the London side to seven with the opening goal in the 2-0 FA Cup fifth-round win at Sutton United on Monday night.
The start at Gander Green Lane was, however, just his ninth in all competitions.
Perez’s representative has played down suggestions the forward – signed for £17 million (Dh78m) from Deportivo La Coruna at the end of August – may consider his long-term future in the summer.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger accepts Perez, 28, is now very much "pushing on the door" for a regular starting place, with the latter having settled into London life.
Perez said in an interview with Arsenal Player: "It was still quite a change for me to get used to the English league when I moved here from Spain. Everyone needs some time to adjust.
"Players are all different, so some take longer to adapt than others. Now I feel really comfortable and I’ve fitted in well to the team. That’s particularly important for a player."
Arsenal do not play again until March 4 when they head to Liverpool, with the second leg of their Uefa Champions League round-of-16 clash against Bayern Munich following three days later. That tie is all but over following the 5-1 humiliation in Germany.
The FA Cup quarter-final against non-league Lincoln City is also on the horizon.
Centre-back Laurent Koscielny is expected to resume training following a hamstring injury which forced him off in Munich, while midfielder Alex Iwobi should also be in contention, despite taking a heavy knock to his foot after being on the end of a hefty challenge from Sutton captain Jamie Collins.
Mohamed Elneny, just back from international duty with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, is to be assessed on an ankle problem picked up on Monday evening.
Midfielder Aaron Ramsey could return to the squad for the Anfield trip, having been out since the home defeat by Watford on January 31 because of a calf problem.
Meanwhile, Liverpool winger Adam Lallana is set to sign a new long-term contract with the club.
The England international has reportedly agreed a £110,000-a-week three-year deal – effective from this summer – with the option of a further 12 months.
Official confirmation is expected today. Lallana follows Philippe Coutinho, who in January signed a new contract, in committing his long-term future to the club.
Source: The National