Lucas Perez Shows He Can Be Arsenal's Secret Weapon over Festive Period

There were plenty of reasons for Arsenal to be satisfied with their night's work in Basel. Their thumping 4-1 victory was positive enough, but Paris Saint-Germain's surprise 2-2 draw with Ludogorets Razgrad also meant that this result was enough for the Gunners to top Champions League Group A.

Arsene Wenger will be delighted with the way he was able to rotate his side and maintain momentum—and no one impressed more than Lucas Perez.

The Spaniard, who was making his first Champions League start, ended the night with a hat-trick. It's a tremendous feat, and one that could kickstart the Arsenal career of a player whose progress thus far has been hindered by injury and a lack of opportunities. 

When Lucas joined Arsenal from Deportivo La Coruna, it was expected that he would take up the central striking berth originally earmarked for Jamie Vardy. Like Vardy, Lucas was a late bloomer who relied on pace and movement to forge a career as a No. 9. 

However, Lucas did not arrive until the very end of the transfer window, and Wenger had already had to employ a temporary fix by using Alexis Sanchez as the spearhead of his attack. The Gunners boss was so encouraged by Alexis' performances that he ended up sticking with it, and Lucas began to look a little like a spare part—especially once Olivier Giroud returned to fitness.

Against Basel, Lucas was named in the right-wing role ordinarily occupied by Theo Walcott. Walcott has managed to plunder plenty of goals himself from that channel this season, and Lucas also seemed at home in that position. 

That shouldn't come as any great surprise—it's an area of the field he spent much of the early part of his career in before developing into a central striker. In Arsenal's system, it's a particularly interesting position—with Alexis frequently dropping deep, there's an onus on the right-sided attacker to make runs beyond the centre-forward and into central areas.

Lucas exploited that brilliantly against Basel. He was helped in no small part by another understudy, Kieran Gibbs. Gibbs is certainly Arsenal's second-choice left-back, but whenever he has been called upon to replace Nacho Monreal this season, he has performed well. With Gabriel Paulista, who is not a natural full-back, operating on the opposite flank, Gibbs was always likely to be a regular outlet for the Gunners in this game. 

PATRICK HERTZOG/Getty Images

When Alexis' clipped pass found him running in behind, Gibbs showed good awareness to fire a cross to the back post. Lucas had made an intelligent run and took a touch before lifting the ball over the defender on the line to claim his first Champions League goal.  

Eight minutes later, he had added an eerily similar second. This time it was Mesut Ozil's pass that found Gibbs running in behind. The English left-back took on the shot himself, and when the goalkeeper parried, Lucas was perfectly positioned to tap home. 

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Wenger suggested Basel had been caught off guard by the surprising fluency Arsenal's unfamiliar XI had shown right from kick-off: "We had a good start, were quite mobile and technically very agile as well. The speed of our start surprised Basel, and it was a convincing performance. Once again our squad system has worked well since the start of the season."

The hat-trick was completed just after half-time. Once again, it was Gibbs who knocked a diagonal pass in his direction. Alexis moved to take the ball on himself but could only get a touch that helped it towards Lucas, who finished confidently to cement his treble.  

Afterwards, Wenger complimented the summer signing's goalscoring instincts. He told reporters:

"

The first two looked like quite easy goals, and were what we call tap-ins in England, but they were created by the team and you have to be there to finish. The first goal is a real striker's goal. He scored more than 20 goals in Spain last season and he has shown why. He has an eye for goal and good movement in the box, which is why he scores.

"

With Walcott's performances dipping a little in recent weeks, Lucas must surely feel he has a chance of forcing his way into Wenger's Premier League XI. It will be interesting to see if the Arsenal boss dares to drop a player who has scored a hat-trick for the weekend's match with Stoke City.

FABRICE COFFRINI/Getty Images

As delighted as Wenger will have been with Lucas' contribution, he'll also be thrilled by the identity of Arsenal's other goalscorer.

Alex Iwobi enjoyed a prolific pre-season, but his confidence has waned in recent months as he's waited for a first competitive goal of 2016/17.

However, when another brilliant lofted Alexis pass found Ozil in the clear, the German squared for Iwobi to tap home his maiden goal of the campaign.

Speaking afterwards, the Nigerian could barely conceal his relief, as he told Chris Harris of the Arsenal website: "It's been a good night. I wouldn't say my goal was a cracker but it was a great assist by Mesut. It's felt like a long time coming and it's always a great feeling to score a goal, but I'm just pleased with the team's performance and that we were able to finish top of the group."

Iwobi was another who benefited from Wenger's rotation policy. His goal means that both contenders for the left-wing spot, he and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, have scored in their most recent outing. Competition for places is intense, and that can only be a good thing. 

Rob Holding was another making his first Champions League start, and he was impressive for the most part. For someone who has played most of his senior football in the Championship, his composure on the European stage was remarkable. Unfortunately, that sense of ease got the better of him late on, when he carelessly ceded possession and allowed Seydou Doumbia to grab a consolation. 

That's hardly the worst thing that could happen. Holding's slip will be a lesson in the importance of concentration. He remains an exciting prospect, and he has already exceeded expectations after his arrival in the summer.

Until last night, his fellow summer arrival Lucas had been a little underwhelming. But in Basel, we saw that he has the potential to be a valuable squad member in the weeks ahead.

With Arsenal facing a frenetic schedule over the festive period, Lucas' goal threat could be a great asset to Wenger's Gunners.

Lucas, who was threatening to become the forgotten man of Arsenal's season, has now thrust himself emphatically back into the first-team picture.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.