It was about a year ago, I wrote an article on Lucas Torreira and his pending start for Arsenal. Having addressed his strengths and weaknesses then having seen in him in the flesh there was another article on his role in the side and how he'd done so far. And since then, he had a pretty impressive first season and having seeing what he brings to the side, it's clear we need him back in, now.
Away at Liverpool is a prime example. Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock and Dani Ceballos are all pretty footballers. They'll do some tackling and some tracking back or sitting but really all of them want the ball at their feet and want to make things happen. Lucas Torreira is the complete opposite. Take Liverpool themselves, other than their front three and Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho in midfield is almost the next name on their team sheet. It's no coincidence that they keep clean sheets. Yes they have a great defence but that back line is so well marshalled by a dogged and gritty defensive midfielder. It's the ideal mix.
The perfect midfield blend for any side is creativity mixed with tenacity, a balance perfected by freedom countered by responsibility. For every forward, you need a backward and for every Granit Xhaka or Dani Ceballos, you need a Lucas Torreira. Yes, he came on at Anfield and pressed on with intensity, and scored a half decent goal but his real duties lie in the midfield engine room breaking up play, recovering the ball and covering his team mates. We saw last season that his unselfishness and levelheadedness gave Arsenal's midfield real bite and a ferocious edge, two key ingredients that were missing last weekend at Anfield.
If we take a look at his key defensive statistics from last season, it's everything Arsenal were missing at Anfield.
His natural instinct is to get stuck in and tackle, intercept and read the opposition's play. It's not rocket science for someone like him; he knows what to do and when to do it. Timing plays an important role for sure, but it's his ability to understand the next play, and preempt what's going to happen before making a decision to tackle, intercept or block that's so unique. Arsenal's squad has no one else like him.
The fact he can dribble, take a touch, ping it around and shoot is in effect, a bonus. How many goals did Claude Makelele ever score for Chelsea? 2! Yet he became the model defensive midfielder that every team needed and every fan craved. Still only twenty-three, Lucas Torreira has so much to give and learn, and he'll mature the more he plays there is no doubt about it. Right now though, his team needs him. The Gunners' midfield lacks the steel that only he can bring. Alongside the likes of Xhaka or Guendouzi, Torreira is the perfect dovetail and Emery needs to get him in from the off, regardless. Our best performances last season were often build upon a Torreira-Xhaka central midfield, and with the NLD derby to come at the weekend, surely it's Torreira time once again.
@craigbennett10
Away at Liverpool is a prime example. Granit Xhaka, Matteo Guendouzi, Joe Willock and Dani Ceballos are all pretty footballers. They'll do some tackling and some tracking back or sitting but really all of them want the ball at their feet and want to make things happen. Lucas Torreira is the complete opposite. Take Liverpool themselves, other than their front three and Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho in midfield is almost the next name on their team sheet. It's no coincidence that they keep clean sheets. Yes they have a great defence but that back line is so well marshalled by a dogged and gritty defensive midfielder. It's the ideal mix.
The perfect midfield blend for any side is creativity mixed with tenacity, a balance perfected by freedom countered by responsibility. For every forward, you need a backward and for every Granit Xhaka or Dani Ceballos, you need a Lucas Torreira. Yes, he came on at Anfield and pressed on with intensity, and scored a half decent goal but his real duties lie in the midfield engine room breaking up play, recovering the ball and covering his team mates. We saw last season that his unselfishness and levelheadedness gave Arsenal's midfield real bite and a ferocious edge, two key ingredients that were missing last weekend at Anfield.
If we take a look at his key defensive statistics from last season, it's everything Arsenal were missing at Anfield.
His natural instinct is to get stuck in and tackle, intercept and read the opposition's play. It's not rocket science for someone like him; he knows what to do and when to do it. Timing plays an important role for sure, but it's his ability to understand the next play, and preempt what's going to happen before making a decision to tackle, intercept or block that's so unique. Arsenal's squad has no one else like him.
The fact he can dribble, take a touch, ping it around and shoot is in effect, a bonus. How many goals did Claude Makelele ever score for Chelsea? 2! Yet he became the model defensive midfielder that every team needed and every fan craved. Still only twenty-three, Lucas Torreira has so much to give and learn, and he'll mature the more he plays there is no doubt about it. Right now though, his team needs him. The Gunners' midfield lacks the steel that only he can bring. Alongside the likes of Xhaka or Guendouzi, Torreira is the perfect dovetail and Emery needs to get him in from the off, regardless. Our best performances last season were often build upon a Torreira-Xhaka central midfield, and with the NLD derby to come at the weekend, surely it's Torreira time once again.
@craigbennett10
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