Arsenal finally ended their Champions League group stage hoodoo after registering a 4-1 win over Basel and topping the group as PSG slipped to a 2-2 draw against Ludogorets.
The North London club will now have a easier draw in the round-of-16 which they were unable to afford over the past few years, which ultimately resulted in first knockout round exists.
The win will come as a relief for fans in two aspects, Arsenal have topped the group and Perez showing his true capabilities. The Spaniard marked his first Champions League appearance for the Emirates club and completed his hat-trick within the first 48 minutes.
The forward, who joined for £17million from Deportivo La Coruna in the summer, has found it difficult to get into the first team . He had made four previous starts for the club, with three of them coming in the League Cup and yielding a total of two goals, both against Championship side Nottingham Forest.
However, he demonstrated his pedigree with his three-goal show against the Swiss opponents to provide Wenger with another option in the second half of the season.
Fans were thrilled with his display and took potshots at Tottenham as the striker has now scored as many Champions League goals in 47 minutes as the entire Tottenham team had in this season’s group stages.
Here are some fan reactions from Twitter:
Yes they did!
Many said #Perez is a panic buy
— vOkE (@Iz_Kev) December 6, 2016
and we have one more beast returning
#Perez hattrick was beast!!!!!
— Seymour Buts (@AwaisTheBass) December 6, 2016
#Perez brings something different to the #Arsenal team.
— Kayode Isaac Adebiyi (@CallyKayode) December 6, 2016
He had the talent, just needed the platform
#Perez scores a hattrick. Incredible. Who knew he could do that ey 😂😂 ⚽⚽⚽#BASvAFC #fotball
— ML Tennis (@Lukic_Tennis) December 6, 2016
Well done Wenger
https://twitter.com/sidautarchy/status/806240023813066752
Right Place Right Time
This guy finishes even the slightest chances and should be starting games ahead on Theo on that alone. #Perez
— Ohiogooner (@OhioGooner) December 6, 2016
Note this down
Fox in the box #Perez
— Big Rich (@madeinbrixton) December 6, 2016
Poor Vardy
https://twitter.com/WengerTactic/status/806240129128038401
LOL
Lucas Perez has as many CL goals in 47 minutes as Spurs do all season pic.twitter.com/EZtbymqHmd
— ArsenalGIF (@ArsenalGIF) December 6, 2016
Well Done Lucas
Happy to finish first in the group and for being able to help the team with my first Champions League goals #UCL #Arsenal ⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/GMMRrV3MpK
— 💙🤍Lucas Pérez 🍍 (@LP10oficial) December 6, 2016
He might be
Lucas Perez can be our Kanu.#Afc
— Yossi 🇵🇸 (@yossiOsman) December 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/FergusJSharp/status/806256545369493504
Hopefully he will be afforded more chances now
https://twitter.com/MoarFootball/status/806241450610618369
Take a bow #LucasPerez 👏👏👏 #afc #COYG #BASVAFC
— Caroline Boyce (@CJBoyce11) December 6, 2016
https://twitter.com/RamRajiniVerian/status/806290623154294784
