Arsenal’s search for a midfield anchor has been a quest which showed little sign of coming to an end under Arsene Wenger, but the arrival of Lucas Torreira seems to have finally solved an ongoing problem for the club.
Arsenal are too nice; Arsenal lack a mean streak; Arsenal have no protection for the back-four in midfield. This is the narrative which has been peddled by pundits and supporters prior to the start of the new season under Unai Emery.
Whether Emery has actually improved the club is up for debate, as there is a suggestion that avid discussion of an Emery-inspired transformation is something of a myth.
But what very few supporters will be eager to question is the impact which Torreira has had so far at the heart of midfield.
The Uruguay international was forced to bide his time before setting foot in the first-team, but he has since established himself as a regular under the Spaniard, where he has combined technical quality with defensive solidity, showcasing a notable mean streak all the while.
Arsenal exorcised the demons which previously haunted them at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon by clinching a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth, and Sky Sports pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink singled out Torreira for another excellent performance.
Torreira was selected in Hasselbaink’s team of the week column, and this is what he had to say about his performance: ‘Lucas Torreira is what Arsenal have been missing. That little tenaciousness, that nastiness.
‘He gives them that solid base and that’s why he’s in the team. Every team needs somebody like that, somebody who will go into tackles, set the tone and he is doing that exceptionally well.’
It’s certainly too early to draw comparisons between the likes of Patrick Viera and Gilberto Silva, but Torreira’s combative midfield displays hint that he can become a mainstay at the heart of Emery’s midfield for many years to come.
As Hasselbaink has suggested, Torreira is a player who leads by example, making strong challenges and showcasing a willingness to work hard in the midfield and, combined with his forward-thinking instinct to deliver the ball into promising attacking positions, it’s fair to say Arsenal have a huge talent on their hands.
And perhaps most exciting aspect of Torreira’s compelling opening to life in north London is that he is only 22-years-old – sky is the limit.
Arsenal fans – thoughts? Let us know below!
