Journalist Sam Blitz has claimed that Arsenal were right to allow Nuno Tavares to leave on loan after he agreed a deal to move to Marseille.
The defender picked up his fair share of minutes last season in the absence of Kieran Tierney to injury, and even retained a first-team role after the Scot had recovered before his defensive weaknesses began to be exposed.
His minutes in the latter part of the campaign was increasingly limited after being exposed at the back, and Blitz has told Sky Sports that it was the right decision to let him leave this summer.
“It was unlikely that Nuno Tavares was going to usurp Kieran Tierney in the left-back position,” Sam Blitz told Sky Sports News. “In fact, Tavares wasn’t probably expected to play as many as 28 times last season. The Portuguese defender looked promising in places but individual errors let him down. There’s not quite the same trust in Tavares that other fringe players at Arsenal have.”
The club clearly believes he has the potential to be a top player in the future, otherwise we would have allowed him to join Atalanta, instead of refusing to include an option to buy in his loan move.
He has great qualities going forward, but that lack of composure when passing backwards proved costly more than once, and he can hopefully work on that in France with Marseille.
Do you believe Nuno has what it takes to work his way back into the fold at Arsenal?
Patrick
I like the lad. I think at times the criticism he got was harsh. Yes he made mistakes but did some good stuff too. Would have liked him to go on loan to Brighton as they seem to develop players to a high premier league standard. Hopefully see him in 12 months time a more complete player
Agree, but loan is a good decision to see if he can become a more complete player. He’s got many great attributes about him and I could’ve seen him coming off the bench to help make a difference for us sometimes. Hoping he can start for Marseille and get some good gametime. Good luck nuno!
Criticism was completely fair but was always a player in there. Year on loan always ideal and the club have stood firm on not accepting any fee clauses. In terms of Brighton the French league is more forgiving at least, do think Brighton missed out if they sell Cucurella but that is their business.
Agree with the writer above Brighton would have been the perfect club not just because of their project, but mainly due to their style of play.
Slowly Edu maybe getting his act together this is the correct decision taken on the youngster, next should be Marquinhos
We just haven’t seen much of Marquinhos at all. I’m sure the brentford match gave Arteta a good idea of where he’s at which fans weren’t able to watch. It looks like we still want another RW. If that happens then I feel like we would look to loan him out.
Marquinhos was an opportunistic signing. Was never a plan for this year type signing, simply too good to turn down type signing. He was available at a cut price because of really really weird situation. Think we’d be happy either way with him and quite relaxed as it was rushed in the 1st place. If we can find an ideal loan club cool, if not he spends a year getting some game time and familiarity with the club in the reserves/some cup exposure. Either is fine especially as he can always go out on loan 2nd half.
RSH & Angus
Agree with you both, wish I had seen more of Marquinhos.
Saw him at the camping world stadium and he looks physically strong and full of running,
I believe that Nuno could have been better managed.i have few worries because discussions about the loan started with a different manager at OM.so is he a club’s or manager’s signing?will he get enough game time?I still think that there was enough opportunities for him with us this season(KT injury record).having said that, a good season on loan at Marseille,he could come back a much better and more player.”boa sorte” Nuno!!
I believe that Marseille are looking for a left back or wing back, so i am sure Tavares will get plenty of game time. Indeed Tavares was wanted by Sampoali before he left, when asking after buying Saliba. Like Saliba, i believe Tavares will come back a better player, he will play a lot more football.
Better managed how? He was bought to be KT’s back-up and used as such. In the games he struggled he needed hooking off or it would only of got worse. As to OM their new manager has a different style which is the reason they are entertaining Nuno, they never opened negotiations before then (presume you only found out they changed manager recently been known for a long time.) Manager is more direct in his play which should suit Nuno. This was stated in many of the early reports regarding Nuno to OM even if some missed it because they were focussed on wanting the OM manager over Arteta and continuing that particular agenda vis a vis Arteta, Guendouzi and Saliba.
It probably doesn’t matter if I/we think he can work his way back into the fold – the point is that it’s clear that the powers that be in Arsenal clearly believe it or they wouldn’t be so insistent that there’s no option to buy in the loan.
He was unlucky last season in a way. Some players are in a halfway house stage where they’re a bit better than a loan and can develop in the squad by covering rotations for cup matches etc. I think that was the plan with Nuno last season, but then…
We were knocked out of the domestic cups unusually early. And then… KT got injured long-term.
So Nuno played 28 times, many of them in bigger games than he was meant to play.
That’s not his fault. He was thrown into the deep end a bit too early, he didn’t do badly but it shows the difference it makes to develop players at the right speed and in the right way. So in the end he didn’t do well enough to be a squad player next season either with OZ arriving.
But he did do well enough that the club think he needs another season on loan and can then be good enough.
Those who think Saliba should have been playing in the squad last season should not what happens when someone is pushed up too early. There’s more to it than what you see on the field, or read in the media.
Reminds me of Ebue. Brilliant in parts, and so annoying in others.
He’s certainly got the potential to be a great player. Might actually thrive in a system that plays with wing backs with the defensive burden taken away. Even then, he needs to improve his composure in the final 3rd.
Eboue is a really good comparison, although he actually established himself in the first team before we bought sagna, which severely reduced his opportunities to develop in the areas he needed to, mainly defensive positioning. Imo eboue had a much higher ceiling than sagna, but we opted to get the ready-made product – it improved the team a lot in the short term. Had we sent eboue out on loan like this after signing sagna, maybe he’d have developed into a world class player. Maybe this is a good move for nuno
To answer Patricks ever present last line question; YES I DO, PATRICK!
I have a lot of faith in TAVARES, as I see his evident talent , but not as a full back, IMO!