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28th Oct 2016

Arsene Wenger blasts “deliberate kick” that leaves Lucas Perez out injured for lengthy spell

"It was a kick, a deliberate kick"

Robert Redmond

Lucas Perez will be out of action for a while, and Arsene Wenger isn’t happy.

The Spanish forward limped out of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Reading in the EFL Cup earlier this week, after being on the end of an awkward, unnecessary tackle from Danzell Gravenberch.

Wenger revealed in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game against Sunderland that the 28-year-old has injured his ankle and will be out for between six to eight weeks with suspected ligament damage.

Perez hasn’t been a regular in the first-team for Premier League games, and Wednesday’s game against Reading was just his third start since joining the club from Deportivo La Coruna. But he’ll be unavailable for key games against Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain as he recovers from the injury.

Wenger, who also confirmed in Friday’s press conference that fit again Aaron Ramsey will be in the squad to face the Black Cats, hit out at the challenge that left Perez on the sidelines.

“It’s very frustrating because he worked very hard to get there, and now he’s close” the Arsenal manager said.

“He’s absolutely gutted because it’s an injury coming from nowhere and a stupid one. It was a kick, a deliberate kick.”

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