Lucas Torreira believes Granit Xhaka is fundamental to Arsenal’s success this season and believes his on-pitch partnership with the Swiss will go from strength-to-strength as he gets to grips with the Premier League.
After his World Cup exploits and move from Sampdoria, the Uruguayan was initially eased into first-team action. He’s since established himself as a regular starter, earning plaudits for his tenacious and energetic performances in the centre of the park.
While Xhaka’s presence in the team often splits the fanbase, the new boy insists that he plays a key role in helping his teammates build play from the back.
“I am going to get to grips better with all the tactical aspects of how Arsenal play,” he told the Evening Standard.
“Last year, I got used to Sampdoria’s style of play, where we had three players across the midfield, and I’m now adapting to Arsenal’s and there just being two of us, playing alongside Granit Xhaka.
“There are many things I can improve on, but that will come with time. We are going to have a much better understanding, we’ll only improve and when things are going well the team will become even better.
He added: “Granit is a player that I link up a lot with in the midfield and he covers lot of ground on the pitch.
“He occupies space really well and is important to the defensive balance of the team, which the manager knows. He’s an outlet for the first pass from defence and frustrates the opposition’s attackers. When he’s playing well, the team are going to win games.
“We’re gaining points and me and him are playing minutes together and gaining experience together, which is important.”
Torreira also touched on how he’s adapting to life in London, revealing he’s taken to exploring the capital when he gets some free time.
“Moving to London has been completely new for me — it’s another country, another culture, another way of life,” he said. “I’m quite a normal guy, very natural.
“I spend a lot of time training, but I’ve made the most of my free time to explore the city a bit. There are lots of new things, but I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time here.
The biggest challenge has probably been the climate, but I like playing in the toughest league in the world.”
Brutal headline
Great team spirit from the Terrier. Xhaka is a lot better with the Terrier protecting him.
We’ve needed someone like him defensively for a long time.
They really play well together
I love how Xhaka is getting the praise he deserves. He is not a really complicated player, he does a very simple job that is very important. What he does is not easy though and we have got one of the best in his position on the planet. He is also such a dedicated player, disciplined and truly consistent. We have a player who is statistically the best passer in the premier league (most passes into the final third since he arrived at Arsenal) and somehow critique him on what he does not have instead of appreciating what he does.… Read more »
Agree in full and would add my favourite, Auba to the happy list. And Guendouzi too thinking about it.
You had me until you said Mustafi. We should have sold him when we had the chance.
I have not been Xhaka’s biggest fan but I have to admit with Torreira by his side he has been getting the job done. Nothing spectacular, just goes about handling that midfield area well. Which is what we need.
Nothit spectacular? Have you seen his freekicks?
Or those long passes?
without wanting to piss on Wengers legacy , it shows how much some these players were left out to dry by our former manager in his later years at the club. “go out and do your thing” seemed to be the main policy under AW , which mainly worked great when the league was weaker and you had world class players like henry , bergkamp, pires etc , but as the league has gotten stronger and we have recruited / developed less top class players , the coaching needed to go up a few levels to try and make up… Read more »
The man brought top 4 and genuinely challenged for the title with teams far worse than what we have today.
And while some comparison is natural, this Wenger in his last years was shit is just lazy. Wenger is a top manager who went stale because he stayed at the same employer for too long. By all accounts he is a Titan in the modern game. We are lucky to have got his prime years.
Have some respect!
hi
i didn’t say he was shit. i just think that in his final years at the club the players didn’t kick on to the next level in the same way they used to in his early years and i think that down to his approach in training and coaching. its got nothing to do with respect, i have been to almost every home game for 25 years , so my respects have been paid.
…been to almost every home game for 25 years…
Yea, sure. It’s easy to type anything online.
yesth its as
was there really a need to drag wenger into this discussion?
Granit has been an improved player even before Emery came in. Last 10 matches last season, he showed better discipline and signs of maturity in picking passes. He will be critical for us as he switches our point of attack the best. With Torreira next to him, he is freed up to do a bit more orchestrating slightly further forward. The duo will be key in protecting our (potentially) make shift back line. The more they (and the players ahead of them) can hold and put Liverpool under pressure, the less our defense has to be exposed to. Particularly since… Read more »