Why Arsenal need Lucas Torreira

The new Arsenal coach Unai Emery is said to be a big admirer of Jean Michael Seri from Nice, and it has been reported that the Frenchman is available for £35million if we go for him, but is he the type of midfielder that Arsenal really need right now?

If you ask anyone on JustArsenal (as in most previous years) that we actually need a Defensive Midfielder and nothing else at the moment. Seri is not that man apparently and the one that we are now reported to be looking at is the Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira. The Uruguayan has a €25m release clause and at that price he is sure to attract a lot of suitors when he appears at the World Cup this summer which is why we are trying to secure the move now.

The stats site whoscored.com has compiled these opinions from his stats over the season….

Lucas Torreira Characteristics
+ Strengths
Ball interception – Very Strong
Long shots – Strong
Taking set-pieces – Strong
Passing – Strong
Tackling – Strong
Concentration – Strong
Blocking the ball – Strong

– Weaknesses
Aerial Duels – Weak

Lucas Torreira’s Style of Play
Likes to shoot from distance
Gets fouled often
Likes to play short passes
Likes to tackle

Torreira sounds exactly like the type of player we need and I really hope the rumours are true!

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74 Comments

    1. he is south American so I am assuming that he has the engine to boss the midfield. they day arsenal FC gets a proper DM…

      1. Yes he’s got a great engine and a terrific shot. I know YouTube could even make me look good but have a look and you’ll get a good idea.

    2. It looks like we and Napoli are going to have to share this.
      Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a fee for the transfer of Leno.They have made it clear that they won’t listen to any offers for him again.

      1. I thought Napoli had signed Rui Patricio from SP Lisbon.I read somewhere that Arsenal was reluctant in signing him coz he doesn’t seem to have improved from repeated mistakes he does every season.

        1. Isn’t it this same Rui Patricio who Wolves are head over heels on?He’s likely to end up there or any other club but it surely isn’t Napoli.

      2. Also, just a reminder that Griezmann will sign for Barca next week meaning there’s going to surely be some development with Dembele to us likely after the World Cup.
        We are his first choice due to Auba and Minslintat.

  1. I personally dont think he will be good for us.
    Coz of his size. We at arsenal have too many small size and small frame players.

    Yes you can refer kante as an example for small size but still stong.
    But my opinion is kante is stong coz he has an african descent. By nature africans are stonger than the regular Caucasians and africans have much greater bone desity.

    We need a midfeild enforcer… Toriera may come good. But it is too much of a risk tp pair him up with another short and small frame player like ramsey and wilshere. With them in our midfield we will be easily bullied by the likes of matic,pogba, fabinho ,mousa dembele,wanyama etc.

    I personally prefer a stong and speedy midfielder with african descent.

    Only few names come to my mind… Like Kondogbia. Though he has been permanantly bought by valencia this season…i think we can still buy from them as they only paid 15-20 mil to inter.

    So if we can pay 30mil i think they woulf sell.

    1. And i think arsenal do have a good relation with valencia… We have sold coquelin and gabriel to them for peanuts in todays market where even a league 2 player costs minimum of 5mil.

      1. And this is the same Kondogbia who was not good enough to make it on Seria A.He has not even made the French World Cup Squad.He plays for a second tier Spanish team that incorporates Francis Coqulein who was sold by Arsenal because quite simply he was proven to be not good enough.But because he is from African descent he is in your opinion a better fit for a CDM than Torreira who is a SPECIALIST in that position.
        I can appreciate you wanting to see your fellow countrymen in an Arsenal shirt but could you PLEASE buy Football Manager to play with and stop F***ing about with the real thing

        1. Don’t think he’s average but one dimensional.
          He’s been fantastic for Valencia.Have you watched him?Picked up 1 MOTM as far as I remember and you know when Coquelin picks up those it means he’s just everywhere.

        2. Lol..phil..you have one great mind and a keyboard…I am residing no where near Africa… And it takes me atleast 10 hours on a flight to reach any city in africa.
          And I am million miles away from having african genes in me. So you better get your mind right before you comment on some one’s nationality.

          I am keen on an african descent coz of their inherant strength.

          Tell me one thing.. When you want a winger or a striker with skill and pace with good dribbling and good ball Skills and technically sound where do you shop?

          I hear you saying SOUTH AMERICA.
          so all those who like messi,neymar,suarez,Alexis,cavani,Jesus etc are from south america?

          I pity your thought process.

          Just as you go for south americans for wingers and strikers..for strong and robust defenders or midfielders you go for african descents.

          I am not even saying to sign an african player. I am just saying african descent. He could be of any country.

          If you look at our great defence and midfield in the early wenger years. We have so many strong black players which made us a good physical team. The likes of Sol,lauren,Viera, kolo all were stronger than the likes of Koscielny, mustafi, squilachi,silvestre etc.

        3. And Phil..it seems you are completely messed up with the TV channels that you watch for football

          When has Valencia become second tier spanish team?
          They finished 4th with only 3points seperating them and Real Madrid.

          And you talk about kondogbia not getting selected for the national team
          Did Kante get selected for france (let alone world cup) before Leicester won the PL? What about vardy?
          To become a star You need the right club to motivate and right team balance.

          1. In reply
            I watch very little football on tv.I follow Arsenal to (very nearly) every game home away and Europe.I do not have the desire to watch other teams.Very occasionally I might do but not very often.I do however get to see quite a few Spanish games as I spend a fair bit of time in the country.To me there are Three teams of any note playing in the Spanish league and that is AM RM and Barca.Any team that has Francis Coqulein in midfield as a first choice starter are not to be considered a top team.
            Pickford Maguire Butland Loftus-Cheek Vardy Pope-All players that are playing for teams OUTSIDE the top six teams in this country and are in the England World Cup Squad.Kondogbia plays for a top 4 Spanish side and is not in the French Squad.Why? Because he was not deemed good enough that’s why.Yet he is good enough for Arsenal is what you are saying.
            Why do you say I only look at South Americans for wingers?Where I have I said that? Read what you have written before hitting the send button.You look pretty foolish.
            And as regards to Black Defenders-have you seriously written that?Are you totally senseless?So what you have said that if you are not Black and of “ African Desent” then you cannot be considered a good defender?I must bring that up next time with Tony Adams John Terry Frank Beckenbaur etc etc.What a stupid a mindless comment.
            I don’t care if Arsenal play with a team full of Martians or Leprechauns.I have never judged anyone on race colour country or religion.Why on this gods earth you feel you can write comments like that I just cannot imagine.Still if it makes you feel important then there’s nothing I or anyone can say other than you really are a pathetic mug

    2. Chelsea team in general is a physical team.The same can’t be said for Arsenal.Kante is strong but not as strong as people are making him out to be.
      The thing is that he’s a fighter and won’t give up which makes him seem so strong.He’s like Alexis.He won’t give up any battle very easily.But I agree with you that we need a physical presence in our midfield and that even gives me second thoughts about this transfer.
      But one thing you and I must know for sure is that Torreira is a fighter,a proper destroyer and loves to really intercept while having massive quality on the ball.This is something we’ve really lacked so we should be happy.

        1. The Torreira deal is imminent.Napoli have already given up and nabbed our target (Leno).
          Rio Patricio to Wolves looks increasingly likely but the so called media said Napoli have agreed a deal,signed him via via via.Its not true.

      1. I know we are not considered to be physical team now. But our best years have come when our team was considered to be the best mix of techicality and physicality.

        That is why i dont want Toriera. I want a change in the way teams think about arsenal. Even before the ball is kicked the opponents should be vary of the fact that they are going to be facing strong players and robust tackles.
        Toriera doesnt instill that fear in the opponents while they are standing next to him in the tunnel before the game. Image veira/sol/keown/ kean… Etc in the tunnel next to you before match?

        If we are to play with such short and small frame players we should opt for the tactics of barcelona when they used to have xavi,ineasta,messi,pedro,puyol etc. Only pique and busquets were strong and physical players in the entire squad.
        So all they had to do was to play extremely tactical tiki taka short pass football in the faces of the opponets and provoke them to make a tackle. And then make the most by acting as if thier head is cut off.

        But we being arsenal are not the kind to fake injuries and cheat to win against 10men…. That is coz of Arsene and his philosophy of being honest.

        So we need a tall,pacy and strong defensive midfielder.
        Kondogbia is my choice.

        1. I get your point but what I’m saying is signing Kante for Arsenal is almost the same us signing Torreira.What helps Kante is that his team is physical so it covers him up.So if we were to be signing Kante we’d be encountering the same problems but we’d want him because of his quality.
          This implies that had Arsenal had a team as physical as Chelsea there would have been no eyebrows raised at signing Torreira since the team is physical enough.
          What I look at is this:Is he a fighter?Is he a ball winner?Does he have quality on the ball to compliment our style?The guy ticks all my boxes.The positive outweighs the negative.

          1. Fully agree. I have watched him on a few occasions (not on Youtube) and the one thing he has in abundance is tenacity with a big helping of technical skill and stamina and he is only 22. He gets hit often doesn’t whinge, just gets up. If we get him it will solve our DM problem.

        2. Don’t recall Billy Bremner’s height being a drawback and he was as physical as you can be.

        3. You don’t need to be 6″ 6 tall to instill fear in your opponent on the field. Most of our invincible didn’t only instill fears into their oppositions because they are tall, strong, and can fight but majorly because they are good at what they do. They are terrific footballers. Tell me are opposition players shivering to your bone when they see, Aguero, Hazard, Willian, Ruben, Riberry, Cazolar, Pirlo, etc because they are gigantic and have monster frame. I know it an opinion but come on you need to vet it before you dropped on here. The Torreira guy is a DM, a good one in his position and it is not like he is playing in seria B or C .YouTube is there to see what he can do if not wait for world cup to kick on and you can see for yourself.

          1. All the players you mentioned are the wingers and strikers. As i said already when someone wants a winger and striker we go straight for south americans.
            Just like that african descent players have the robustness in them because of their way of living and the diet they are on.

            1. You cant generalize such things that simple like a 12 year old. Even if that was true, there are big differences among-st the people, from region to region, from one person to the other. You take Kante as an example of him being black and tough, but then choose Kondogbia as an option we should get, ignoring the fat that besides him being black, he is very injure prone.

              Why is is he so injure prone as black man?

              Bro science, no good.

  2. He can be our own Kante if you like..

    I watch the Italian league as well and I will tell you that He is a very good player that can switch things within a twinkle of an eye. Saw him against Juve and He bossed the midfield. I call Him small but MIGHTY. Let’s get Him!

  3. We have needed a top CDM since the days of Gilberto Silva.In my mind we have had Two players since Gilberto who were adequate replacements and that all in Coqulien and Alex Song.Santi Cazorla made Coqulein look better than he was and this was proven when Coquleon played and Cazorla didn’t.He tried to play like Santi and forgot what he was in the side to do-Win the ball and give it to somebody who knew what to do with it.Alex Song hag a mammoth season doing exactly what he was in the side to do.I will never forget him having that weasel faced spud Modric in his back pocket at the Emirates in an easy 3-0 win.The perfect display of a CDM.Somehow he then thought he was the new Liam Brady and started to believe his own publicity.He literally thought he was a midfield creative player.Whether Wenger encouraged this change or the player himself big he suddenly stopped doing his job which was to DEFEND.
    This boy Torreira has given us an opportunity to buy someone who can do the one job we have been missing for years in midfield and that is to DEFEND.I like most have only seen his you tube clips but he looks exactly the type of player we need.We need him so no excuses.We are a far bigger Club and far better option than any Otalian Club in terms of the Premiership challenge and the wages he can earn.Not only that he has the opportunity to make himself a supporters hero the second he signs.Lets hope Emery gets the team to get this deal done.This boy COULD be something special

    1. I think Santi made Coq better because he didn’t have to focus much on attack but Coq made Arsenal even far better in helping us to concede less.I feel had he not come in we would’ve lost a lot of matches.No wonder Santi Xhaka wasn’t that good solid.
      Coq has had some fantastic matches even without Santi playing and to me had he been playing from the start of the season would’ve easily been voted as the best player no doubt.

      1. Santi – Xhaka only happened twice .. first against chelsea and we won (3-0) – abd xhaka did not even start then, he came in for coq .. and second, in the champions league and we won like 6 or something and it was the day Santi got injured .. soni do not understand why you say santi – xhaka did not work while both time they played together we had huge wins ..

          1. What I actually meant to say is that Coq-Santi is the best not only because of Santi but because in that season Coq’s defending was amazing allowing Santi to play without any fear and play freely knowing that someone is always there to mop up and in truth he always delivered.
            If you remember after the Ludogorets match where Santi got injured and Coq was once again fantastic he was never the same after that match and looked like a confused person when playing next to Xhaka.

            1. That is what I said in the first place-Santi Cazorla was an outstanding footballer who made everyone else who played along side him appreciate the game so much more.Coqulein if you remember was out on loan at CHARLTON ATHLETIC and was brought back due to injuries.He was out on loan because quite simply hw was not good enough.Yet Santi made the game easier for Coqulein and he really looked a solid player who won the ball and made a difference immediately.But when Santi was not in the side THAT is when you saw yet again the very limited ability Coqulein had.
              Who can ever forget the way he was brushed aside and put on his arse by Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.Totally embarrassing from a CDM and summed up perfectly Coquleins very limited ability

              1. Coquelin was always limited but he always had potential when he was young which to me he he has fulfilled despite not being world class.Santi made it easier for Coquelin due to him relieving him from much attacking but what I’m saying is credit must be given to Coquelin for his mazing defensive performances.Had he started the season with us he would’ve easily been voted the best player and could been very very easily been in the team of the season had he begun.Santi just relieved attacking pressure off him and it helped him.
                As for the embarrassing Chelsea display it was during his bad form so I forgave him though at that time he wasn’t good enough.The same player embarrassed the likes of David Silva,Modric,Coutinho and the so called ‘giant’ Fellaini some seasons back.
                He was also amazing in some matches in 15/16 and continued to backpocket some quality players.Coquelin was not average but just one dimensional in my opinion.
                He’s been fantastic for Valencia against top team until an injury.Picked up 1 MOTM as far as I can recall.

                1. Yeah but Kev the Spanish League is NOT the Premiership is it.If Coqulein was as good as you stay surely he would not have been sold

                  1. The Spanish have more quality imo but the EPL is more rugged and tough and exciting.At his best he made it look easy.You could easily give him an 8 or 9 withoit even waiting for the next match.I saw a report which read that Wenger sold him because he wanted to leave.But trust me the guy is just one dimensional not average.Shame he knows nothing than only to defend.The form he came with from loan to me is him fulfilling his potential rather than just a ‘one off’.

              2. Also remember that in the match where Coquelin showed his tackling ability Cazorla didn’t even play but Flamini was his partner.
                From that match onwards Wenger then begun to pick him over Flamini.It was West Ham vs Arsenal.
                The Coq-Santi partnership was like Santi for attack Coq for defense.They complimented each other and I’m sure Cazorla would’ve been very happy to play alongside him since he was always there to mop up.

            2. Coquelin, like Bellerin, like Wilshere, like Xhaka, like Walcott at first ..was over-hyped (GX & HB can turn it around still). That achilles of ours, the sharp counter attack is when CB’s and defensive midfielder’s earn their bread. Coquelin was not very good at reading the danger, he was only good when the opponent would try to take him on or dallied on the ball. He was another ball watcher, always following the ball with his eyes and never he knew when it was best to step in for a player out of position, he was bad at that. He also fairly often fell back too far in line with the CB’s when reading a cut back or watching that area should’ve been on his mind. He had his moments, good commitment, but not intelligent enough, and I don’t mean his IQ.

              1. I respect your opinion but don’t share in your view.I’ve looked at all the things you bring up in terms of his shortcomings and the only thing I agree with you is that he’s one dimensional.I prefer to judge a player at his best because that’s when you show your real quality.There are some players who even at their best are still average.In those his two season 14/15 and 15/16 his defending was fantastic in terms of anticipating danger,reading a pass,tackling and intercepting.In 16/17 where he went through a bad form some of these things were non existent.I doubt people remember much of Coquelin’s performances before even 14/15.

    2. Phil, combined with Emil Forsberg and our midfield is good to go. Any one of Doucoure, Cavahlo or Nzonzi in addition would be a bonus; however adiitions such as these or Pelligrini would mean that one or both of Ramsey and Wilshere are leaving.

      1. Yeah OG- I have been looking at clips of this player and Forsberg seems to have this ability to play like a wide man but through the centre.Very little of the action showed him in wide positions and he certainly looked pacy and direct.
        I believe this is where we will know the exact amount of our transfer budget.There is nothing not to like about this player but we do have priorities at CB and CDM to sort first.

        1. Forsberg is not the kind of player we need in my opinion.We need a ‘head on’ player.What I mean is a player who’s first intention is always to take players and beat them.Forsberg can beat a man and so can some of our players but we lack players with that ‘head I’m character.Forsberg doesn’t have that character.We divert a lot of balls from goal due to us not being direct and being tippy tally.

          1. Mate you have just totally contradicted yourself.Forsberg is as direct as you can get.Watch the clips.The VERY FIRST AND ONLY THING HE WANTS TO DO IS TAKE PLAYERS ON AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
            Seriously Kev-Go back to reporting on WHO we are signing and not WHY we should or shouldn’t sign them.

            1. Then it must be.I watched some clips where be was more of an assistive and playmaker kind of player.

            2. Oh please nooo…. Let him discuss general stuff just like all arsenal fans do on this forum. I like this side of his better than the “I know who and when someone is signed for arsenal coz i am Gazidis” side of his.

              Lets just discuss what is good and bad in our opinions for our beloved club.

          2. For the kind of abilities you mention… The perfect player with the samr attributes seems to be Martial. I hear he wants a move. But i can guarantee that Manutd wont sell to us. And if it is Jose he would just keep him rot on the bench than sell him to a PL rival.

            I feel after Henry if i saw any player dribble past the players with such ease it has to be Martial and to some extent Mbappe.

            1. He thing is we divert a lot of balls away from goal and just pass pass pass due to lack of directness.Having a player with those qualities can help us to open up defences more.

    3. Why do we not enquire about Chavallio from Sporting Lisbon? what i’ve seen of him he is a beastand would suit us fine,or why not get Yaya Torrie who is leaving Man city who has experience and would be effective in our midfield.?

  4. I understand the player has just followed Arsenal FC and Mesut Ozil on twitter. May not mean much, but keeping fingers crossed now.

    1. Adl’s a big lad, Xhaka’s a biggun too, it could be good to have someone move around in tight areas like how Cazorla made great use of it. Also Alexis was a tough tough competitor. I’d look forward to seeing Adli and Torriera making up a new look, with Xhaka and Ramsey trying to take Adli’s slot and Niles and Bielik trying to take on the Uruguayan. Also we’d have the option to go with three.

  5. If Wilshere doesn’t sign a new contract then we might have two midfield positions to fill (carzola) . Lucas Torreira is short height but mind you Italian league is the most physical leagues in the world. And last season he was the best midfield. If we want to compete on all fronts then we might have to sign both n’zonzi and Lucas Torreira. I personally think we can easily afford both of them.

  6. The problem with Coquelin, i think he was asked to do more with the ball when Cazorla was out, which affected is DM game. Arsenal sold our only DM to Valencia.

    In the case of Song he was overhyped and lost his way, because success got to his head. Song grew in the Position of DM and had several outstanding games, then his agent and himself got turned, the rest is history.

    Torreira seems an outstanding choice in form of a DM, very much in the Kante mold, seem even more technical, very mobile, disrupt attacks and not afraid to put in a foot, head or toe, not the ideal size for a DM but makes up with his energy. I am hoping he is added to the Arsenal squad.

  7. Seri would be more competition for Ramsey than DM, or Wilshere Caz replacement. Tolisso would be competition for Ramsey with him being a very similar player, Niquez too. This fellow or Nzonzi, Fellaini maybe, or go another route. I like this lads age, and the fact he has time and characteristics to become a genuine star. Alexis was small but he was our most competent battler, even more so than our defenders. Having a player going full pelt for everything that moves is a difficult opponent. Strength with height is important, but it makes you slightly slower on the turn compared to smaller players, so both have benefits and handicap, this lad moves in tight areas very well whereas big players shield the ball more so. Niles is short too, and yet we hope he becomes good enough. If he reads the game well enough, that is stopping a possible cross into the box before we even realize it’s on. I want to talk him up, because we need this area filled, and he’s a Uruguayan which I say many times that we need to look out for the up and comers from that nation, Argy, and Brazil, not ones we wait for over four years because we need a passport and besides the loanee club has no real incentive to tailor make things for him to succeed.

  8. The truth is that we have had no decent CDM’s at all since Gilberto left. Our best two were Song , who was adequate only and would not stay in place consistently. The other merely adequate player was Coq , but usually only when playing with Santi Cazorla who could make a parks player look good beside him, so mobile was he. Cazorla has been a dreadful loss to us and I doubt any Gooner would disagree. But neither Song nor Coquelin were anywhere near good enough to be top CDMs on a regular basis and neither was remotely near Gilberto in class , let alone Viera and Petit who were like Fort Knox, shielding our defence. What would make a huge difference is IF we looked for two full backs who considered defence to be their prime role. Nobody at all, save perhaps Ashley Cole, has approached the sheer defensive ability of Dixon and Winterburn and it was foolish in the extreme to EVER pick full backs who can’t defend to save their lives, Eh, BELLERIN? In modern football generally, I cannot see why fullbacks are even considered to be defenders at all. There are very few, world wide, who actually know how to defend, like in previous times.

  9. Agree with Shekar.EPL is a physical league where size and brute strength count as well.
    Arsenal have been repeatedly bullied by physical teams like Stoke/Blackburn,etc.
    If the new boss is smart he shd get guys of xl category otherwise it will be the sos
    same old story)

      1. This is perhaps why he said “have been” rather than “are”. And he is totally right about getting lots of bigger, powerful players to replace all the dwarfs Wenger collected and who were so frequently injured.

  10. We do thus we do that Give me a brake are we still in wenger era Let’s see how we play With emry cause I for once dnt expect the same play like in wenger era Some of Our players we dnt really remember much May flowrish under his system and ones We like may struggle let’s wait too early to start having headache about players And transfers

  11. We do this, we do that pls give me a brake are we still in wenger era Let’s see how we play With emry cause I for once dnt expect the same play like in wenger era Some of Our players we dnt really remember much May flowrish under his system and ones We like may struggle let’s wait too early to start having headache about players And transfers

  12. Our hopes are raised over this guy…. we need someone like this, so please go & get him…. not a bad price either.. ????

  13. Size counts. Look at the no times Sanchez was easily outmucscled in a 50/50
    tangle.He maybe a wc player but against another xl guy he will be easily brushed off.
    Btw Arsenal are the shortest side in the epl on average thanks to the fm
    who had forgotten the epl is not the same as in Spain.

  14. “In reply
    I watch very little football on tv.I follow Arsenal to (very nearly) every game home away and Europe.I do not have the desire to watch other teams.Very occasionally I might do but not very often.I do however get to see quite a few Spanish games as I spend a fair bit of time in the country.To me there are Three teams of any note playing in the Spanish league and that is AM RM and Barca.Any team that has Francis Coqulein in midfield as a first choice starter are not to be considered a top team.
    Pickford Maguire Butland Loftus-Cheek Vardy Pope-All players that are playing for teams OUTSIDE the top six teams in this country and are in the England World Cup Squad.Kondogbia plays for a top 4 Spanish side and is not in the French Squad.Why? Because he was not deemed good enough that’s why.Yet he is good enough for Arsenal is what you are saying.
    Why do you say I only look at South Americans for wingers?Where I have I said that? Read what you have written before hitting the send button.You look pretty foolish.
    And as regards to Black Defenders-have you seriously written that?Are you totally senseless?So what you have said that if you are not Black and of “ African Desent” then you cannot be considered a good defender?I must bring that up next time with Tony Adams John Terry Frank Beckenbaur etc etc.What a stupid a mindless comment.
    I don’t care if Arsenal play with a team full of Martians or Leprechauns.I have never judged anyone on race colour country or religion.Why on this gods earth you feel you can write comments like that I just cannot imagine.Still if it makes you feel important then there’s nothing I or anyone can say other than you really are a pathetic mug”

    This comment from Phil is disgusting! You cant talk about blacks then somewhere in there you add ” I dont care if arsenal play with a team full of Martians” seriously?
    You taking us for fools?

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