If there’s one player Arsenal have needed in the past few weeks, it’s Lucas Torreira.

The Uruguayan midfielder has missed the past three league games due to suspension, and on Sunday the Gunners really missed his presence where Unai Emery’s side fell to a 1-0 defeat to Everton, putting a major dent in Arsenal’s bid for Champions League football.

Torreira has been lavished with praise since his arrival from Sampdoria last summer, and his absence in the Arsenal side has been sorely missed since his red card against Tottenham.

No Torreira in the side has meant that the likes of Mohamed Elneny have been called upon by Emery to start in the side, and to disastrous results. The Egyptian didn’t even last an hour during the weekend’s loss against the Toffees’, and the Uruguayan is returning to the squad at the right time.

Although Everton was Arsenal’s only defeat during Torreira’s absence, the void the midfielder left in the Gunners team could be felt, with Manchester United and Newcastle all finding chances through the centre of the park, but with Bernd Leno finally picking up form, two back-to-back sheets were registered for the north London side.

With Arsenal’s first Europa League quarter-final game starting against Napoli this week and must win games against Watford and Crystal Palace fast approaching, Torreira returns to a Gunners side who are in need of defensive stability in the midfield so that the more creative midfielders can do their job in the team without the burden of defending.

Torreira, who is valued at £49.5 million (by Transfermarkt), has been one of Arsenal’s signing of the season, and his presence in the side has been missed for the past few weeks. With him back, though, the team have extra defensive cover that they sorely need going into their biggest games of the season, and with the 23-year-old returning, Arsenal are in a better position to fight for top four.

Arsenal fans, how much have the team missed Torreira? Let us know!