Lucas Torreira was Arsenal’s biggest signing of the summer, costing £26.5m from Sampdoria, but as yet he hasn’t started a game for his new club.
He’s made three appearances so far, all from the bench, as he’s eased into life in English football following his late arrival after the World Cup in Russia.
Nevertheless, the Uruguayan says he’s feeling more confident with each appearance and that he’s aiming to make a starting spot his own as soon as possible.
Speaking to the official site after the 3-1 win over West Ham, he said “I’m really happy. It’s all very new for me because I’ve come from a different type of league.
“The climate is different here and the way of life too, but I’m settling in nicely and training hard – the sessions are different too. The confidence will grow with every game, so that’s great.
“I’m one of the newer players and I’ve just joined up with the squad. There are a lot of young players and we’re working very hard, with a lot of intensity. We’re getting to grips with what the coach wants from us.”
And as for starting games in midfield, he continued, “Let’s hope so. You train hard, you give your all and you want to improve. I want to start but any time I get on is very important for me.
“For me the best thing is to be able to help my team, as I did today coming on in the second half, and we were able to get the win for our fans, who really deserve it.”
I think he will be a regular starter soon. Whether with Xhaka or Guendouzi we’ll see. Depends on the best fit together.
Xhaka is a natural deep lying midfielder whilst Guendouzi is a central midfielder so no comparison. Both can play
Yeah, crazy! Imagine comparing such completely different players. Like comparing Sterling and Mertesacker!
So many thumbs down. Exactly why couldn’t we play Torreira, Xhaka and Guendouzi at the same time.
It cuts out Ramsey and /or Ozil if we’re playing 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and Mkhitaryan as well if we’re 3-5-2. Anyone can pretty fairly say what they will about how those players have performed so far, but even their biggest critics have to admit their baseline is far higher than we’ve seen so far and they will contribute much more. My opinion is it’s too defensive and leaves too much gap between the lines as none of those three is an attacking mid. Most likely from what we’ve seen Guendouzi would be the high presser but we’ve no idea what… Read more »
I agree. I think he worked well with Xhaka on Saturday. As anyone on this site can attest to, I’m not exactly a Xhaka fan but I think we were solid and balanced when they played together in the second half. Encouraging signs
I’m with you on both points. I wanted him to start in place of Xhaka but was pleasantly surprised seeing them play together.
I think it was the intoxication from the win but soon after the game I had convinced myself they could be a new Mertelcielny.
Just look at the first 2 games and it will tell you the reason he was hooked after 45 mins…hence not a starter for me. Unless Emery goes for a horses for courses approach
that picture of him and chompy looks like he is a child posing with his football hero
when i grow up i want to be a bitey racist
Why do you keep banging on about the price of the player!? It is totally irrelevant.
Great at cutting/covering passing lanes. Very comfortable on the ball and can slip a pass from time to time.
His passing is much better than some give him credit for and we will see that as time goes by.
Ideally Emery will have to be brave and play play him alongside Ramsey and Ozil.
He works better as the “1” in front of the defence. Played alongside Praet at Sampdoria who also makes the 3rd man runs like Ramsey.
No way we should be starting two 6s at home against teams outside the Top 6.
We shouldn’t but it would have helped tighten us up on Saturday
I encourage anyone new to watching this guy to check out his superb work in the WC for Uruguay. He’s already done well here. I look forward to Emery getting even more creative with his lineups, believe it or not, and I think Lucas has the chance to shine when combined with complementary skill sets. Watching those Uruguay replays you can see how fantastic the guy is when he’s just doing his thing, which is stealing the ball, making tackles, and making solid passes up the field. If he and Ramsey or Ozil can get on the same page, watch… Read more »
I know nobody has the right to even be a little critical of anything Emery does but I haven’t liked any or his lineups so far. Between Sam Allardyce’s lack of class and the compulsory blind support, there must be a bit of space for the intellectuals.
Emery is in a tough spot as so much of the roster needed to be turned over / mentalities changed post Wenger and our budget was somewhat limited (have to include massive deal to Ozil in the costs- not just the transfer fees). He’s left with a few players that don’t obviously fit his system (Ramsey – needs a lot more discipline/ might not be here next year anyways, Xhaka – his lack of speed and ability to defend is a major issue even if his passing is tremendous & Ozil. Ozil’s ability to pick a pass is excellent but… Read more »
You haven’t liked the lineups so far?? Oh my word!!…I’m sure Emery will be so concerned. I’m sure we all are, by your disdain, Mr. Silly Avatar Name.
He watches dozens and dozens of hours of film per week. But you, surely, have a better handle on what his players are capable of in the system he wants to play and how to play it then he does. You intellectual, you.
You’ve just proved what my comments tried to point out. Thank you!
midfield breakdown: LT: great takes back the ball and pushes it up field (DM) GX: really good at connecting to others, but shit at creating chances and defending (like a subpar CM, but too good at passing to ride the bench all the time) MG: connects to others, takes ball back, pushes it up (a complete CM/8 who with pressurized training will be a star) AR: pushes it up, creates chances, scores (10) HM: pushes it up, creates chances, scores (10) OZ: confuses defenses, creates chances (False 9) Bellerin should be a 7, he simply DOES NOT belong in defense.… Read more »
Spot on but perhaps it could be bellerin or iwobi?
Hey, I really like Iwobi but I don’t think he’s actually starting material for us. I think he needs a loan year to build up his confidence and get solid starting time. Long overdue for it.
You do realise that the idea of a “false 9” is that you don’t actually have strikers in the team… yet you have TWO in this lineup but then want Ozil to be a false 9.
Also is that a 3-man central defence? So who are the wingbacks? FYI I don’t think Bellerin has played as a wingback yet… he just hasn’t had support from anyone in front of him as he presses ridiculously high.
In short, terrible suggested formation. Sorry…
Upvote for you Maul, I appreciate that. But a few things: What I was saying about Ozil being a False 9 is that I think that’s his natural position. Ditto Bellerin, I think he’s a really a 7 and not a wing-back.
The lineup is just me thinking out loud here about ways to get people working together to get the best out of their natural penchants. It doesn’t even match with what preceded it.
I’m embracing this throw shit against the wall kinda moment!
Torreira Xhaka I think will be a great partnership.
Not sure whether Cardiff is the right game to start Torreira though?
They’re a very tall team, who rely on long balls forward to relieve pressure, and are very efficient on set pieces
I’m not keen on 4-4-2 as a general rule, or playing Xhaka as our deepest lying midfielder, but Cardiff away seems like a logical time to implement both, we should have plenty of the ball.
1) Emery was right to use him sparingly. He was not up to pace against Chelsea, got dispossesed several times, gave away a free kick on edge of box. He’s showing more signs of bedding in against West Ham but there are also obvious physical limitations (height) which may come to play in who we select in midfield particularly for certain circumstances. 2) The gulf between what he provided thus far and what Granit has done is exaggerated by people who choose to make judgement on popular bias rather than watch a game again carefully. Granted Granit still has issues… Read more »
In a loosely related development, I wonder how Wolves could hold City and we couldn’t! We don’t seem to be able to spring surprises any more. All pundits said we’ll lose the first two games and we did. They tipped Wolves for the slaughter, and they pull out a result against City.
I am just wondering. We never seem to upset the bookmakers.
I hope that changes this season.
Maybe Ozil needs to adjust more to the players around him rather than just only the players adjusting to him?
Still i cannot help feel that Ozil was to be sold like Alexis but no one came for him, and now with all the changes, he is left having a new manager that will not understand (stand under) him.
Love this guy. If you watched the Portugal WC game you saw he’s what we’ve needed. I think he pairs great with either Xhaja or Gwen Doozy
Torreira, Xhaka and Ramsey mid 3. There. Done.