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Lucas Perez has revealed he left behind his boyhood club Deportivo La Coruña "to play with the best" at Arsenal.

The 27-year-old forward, who was born and raised in La Coruña, completed

last week after starring for his hometown side over the past 18 months.

Taking advantage of the international break to fly home and says his farewells, the Gunners' number 9 held a special press conference in which he thanked the club for everything and looked ahead to his new challenge at the Emirates Stadium.

"It's very exciting. To play with the best, to compete with the best... It makes me very happy," he said.

"It's a challenge, and if someone had told me at ten years old when I was playing in the streets of La Coruña, I would have thrown them off a bridge, I'd have said 'you're crazy'.

(Image: EPA/Cabalar)

(Image: EPA/Cabalar)

"Moving to the Premier League is something I will remember for all my life," he added.

"I keep every photo people send me, everything that comes out in the press. It's a source of price that Deportivo can rebuild with the money they got for me."

Depor used some of the proceeds from selling their star man to secure some Premier League loan signings.

Stoke City striker Joselu and Carles Gil, of Aston Villa, moved to the Riazor to join big-money signing Florin Andone.

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(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty) (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty) (Image: Arsenal FC via Getty)

And while Lucas Perez already has family in England, he admitted he was a little wary of moving to the bustling capital after enjoying the tranquility of his home town.

"When you arrive in a city of 12 million people it scares you!" he joked.

"Being from [the small town of] Monelos, it is a little bit scary.

"For me Deportivo will always be my family. There's a Deportivo fan in London for sure.