Lucas Torreira has been a growing influence on Arsenal as this season has progressed, and the £26.5m signing from Sampdoria is now a key part of Unai Emery’s midfield.
He provides defensive qualities the team has been crying out for for a long time, and his use of the ball is really excellent.
The 22 year old started his career in North London slowly, but insists his job isn’t simply about interceptions and tackles.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace, he outlined his responsibilities.
“The most important thing for me is try to bring balance to the team, to help the defenders and support the midfielders,” he said.
“To try to help the attackers and to be constantly trying to help in ordering that. They are small things out there, but in the end they make a big difference.
“Every time you go on the pitch you try to play. Obviously I want to have fun playing with my team-mates, to get things going and to help us win – as we have been doing.
“Always lending a hand, sacrificing in defence and in attack I am available to the team, always helping.”
The esteem in which he’s held by fans this early in Arsenal tenure is illustrated by the fact his name is sung to the tune of Patrick Vieira’s old song. Some of that may be down to the fact that Torreira and Vieira sound similar, but if he was playing like Denilson nobody would be singing it in the first place.
“It fills me with so much pride every time I go onto the pitch and they sing for me or applaud me for what I have done,” he said.
“It’s a beautiful thing. It’s really beautiful and I appreciate it. I am extremely proud to be at Arsenal and hopefully we can enjoy many things together.
“It’s a great challenge and a new challenge for me. I’m the kind of person who likes to fight for these things, to always be fighting my way up, like my dad always tells me. I am so happy.
“I’m getting to know London and taking on the challenge of learning English so I can communicate with my team-mates.”
It’s so far so good for Torreira, and fingers crossed he can get even better as this season goes on.
A pitbull with a football brain.
I’m very glad that most pitbulls are like Torriera. Rugged ,but respectful
Does he do baby minding too?
I´m still wondering why Arsene was so reluctant to bring in a player of similar qualities even if it was obvious that this team badly needs one.
Kudos to the club for identifying & signing him early – his WC performances definitely threw him into the spotlight of other clubs we would struggle to battle financially.
So far he seems like a signing of the season to me, even among TOP6.
He wasn’t reluctant, he tried Kante for example and others.
He tried Kante and then opted for Lucas. Kante made it clear that Arsenal wasn’t serious with the negotiations and that’s why he signed for Chelsea instead, in a way intimating that he would have preferred Arsenal to Chelsea (all things being equal). That’s water under the bridge anyways and I’m so glad we now have Lucas to balance things. I wish him and the club the very bests for the season. I’m so inspired by the fighting spirit of this team in the current season and can’t wait for the next match after each match (unlike before when I… Read more »
Players like Kante are very rare. Usually DMs are limited technically or athletically. We saw it with Coquelin, who was really only good when he had Cazorla somewhere within five yards after he won the ball. I’m actually very surprised how similar Torierra is to Kante and we’ve seen what a game-changer he can be with two Premier League clubs and a World Cup team.
Saw Coquelin (and Gabriel) earlier in the month, when Valencia met Man U in the CL. Seeing them play made me a little nostalgic for even those fallow years.
Torreira, better than Pogba..
Not difficult but still
I really don’t get this Pogba bashing hype. Where’s it coming from? The guys a great baller playing under a ‘park the bus and fuck your skills’ type of manager.
I ditch Elneny AND Ramsey for Pogba any day. He would be beast playing with the Öz, Auba, Laca and Iwobi.
‘Torreira, better then Matic’. I’d go for that myself.
And fuck Man Ushiteit!!
Bold statement there lad, claiming that Pogba is better than Elneny!!!
Arsene’s insistence on forcing square pegs into round holes was his undoing.
Emery’s reluctance to play Rambo+Ozil together and start Aubameyang+Lacazette together suggests he’s looking towards a more balanced team structure.
As much as I like Xhaka, the one combination we’ve yet to see that we haven’t yet is Rambo+Torreira at the base of our midfield.
Think Rambos priced himself of that position.
There’s a saying in South Wales. ” say nothin is best” . He should learn it ,and tell the same to his agent. Let his football do the talking. Like his Coach asked for , only a day earlier.
I think his football has done the talking and that’s why he’s being got rid of.
Lets hope the hype doesn´t get the best of him
There’s an article on him on Skysports I think…of all places….that is from before he started with us and gives quotes from his previous coaches ,back to when he was 8 or so. A humble man ,from a humble culture apparently. How absolutely refreshing… like having 2 slices of lemon in ones G And T ,what.
Really emphasises the honesty in his feelings for his name being sung. Keep it up all. I’m going for a little weep.
Que star wars reference.
Fun isn’t something one considers when bringing balance to the Arsenal team but this…
does put a smile on my face
What a player. Coyg
Does a helluva job as well! Changed that Sporting game. I didn’t know when I started shouting “give the ball to Torreira!” anytime we had the ball after he came on. What a player! Fast become my favorite player after Ozil (who’ll remain my favorite until he leaves). Still has to beat the Lacameyang pair to be no. 2 on my list though. Respect!
Hmm we have being crying out for another v-IERA and then BOOM!.. we have torr-IERA…who says God doesn’t listen to arsenal fans??….come on Torriera you are just 22 go on and become greater than Viera….lead arsenal to titles.. I’m sure Viera won’t be angry with that
Actually it’s Torr-EIRA, and Vi-EIRA. Still matching though.
Sorry, had to..
No pressure Lucas, but go out and change the way we have been playing for the last 20 years. Factitious? Maybe, but isn’t the idea of playing as balanced as possible central to Emery’s long term plans? Torreira is more than the pitbull we have desired for many years, he is the changeling for a different playing style. So far so good on the pitch, and you have to love that killer(hard working) attitude.
Sometimes things are as good as you think they’ll be. Upon his signing I was saying, hopefully, that Torreira had the makings of an all-time Arsenal great. It looks like he may already be on his way. Better than I expected frankly, he makes the whole team better by providing a combo of driving forward passing and aggressive tackling we really needed. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with our defense, but Torreira is an important part of it. His quality lets us focus on it and choose for the future. The prospect of him working with a truly… Read more »
Apparently he had a very good strike on him and can take a great free kick. But he’s so defensive minded he hasn’t got close to taking a pop at goal and it seems Xhaka and Ozil are the go to guys for dead ball. Would be nice to see what he’s got though.
Can’t recall which game mate but he has definitely taken a free kick for us, came close from about 25 yards if i recall.
And it’s easy to forget he’s still just 22 years old.
OTOH, Paddy Vieira was just 20 when he signed for the Arsenal, quickly became hugely influential, stayed with us 9 years, and was a great captain to boot. With Lucas’ wiry physique, I’d certainly hope he can stay with us 9-10 years too, perhaps longer. Now there’s a thought…