One of the stand-out games in the quarter-finals of the World Cup is the clash between France and Uruguay.
Ahead of that game, former Gunner Robert Pires spoke to Uruguayan media about the qualities of both sides, and in doing so talked up midfield transfer target Lucas Torreira.
By all accounts we’re just waiting for his tournament to be over before he officially signs from Sampdoria for a fee of around €30m, and when asked if there was anything about France’s opponents that caught his eye, he mentioned the 22 year old.
“I like Torreira a lot,” he said. “I was surprised by his performance. He plays it simple and is always well positioned on the pitch.”
This was in reference to his display in the previous game, when Uruguay beat Portugal 2-1, and he was an energetic, dynamic presence in midfield.
As ever we have to wait until the move becomes 100% official, but he certainly appears to have qualities that this team has been missing for some time now.
The exact make-up of our midfield next season remains a bit unclear as there remain question marks over Aaron Ramsey’s contractual situation which may press the club into a sale.
Me too. He was very impressive against Russia as well as against Portugal. Would be the missing link to make Xhaka, Ramsey and Özil shine in my opinion. Would be really disappointed if we don’t get him.
He looks like a Ngolo Kante in disguise….. I would buy him anytime! So curious to see our starting eleven next year… I mean, next month 😉
I’m very impressed with what I’ve seen of him so far. Come on you Torreira Gunner.
Shaping up to be one of the best Summer we’ve had in a very long time. Excited for the coming season.
Our ‘Pit Bull’ Torreira???
Class act.
And Torreira looks good too.
He is fantastic player and he can help us to achieve our goals this coming season
Who doesn’t love GOALS, we definitely would need some on a cold night out in Stoke…
In the FA cup and marabou stork/lemonade cup niw that the orcs made their long overdue return to the championship
Yep I like him.
Out of many failed predictions, one of my predictions was that Uruguay would go deep. If Cavani was fully fit I would give them a great chance against France, but without him I can’t see Uruguay advancing.
Really impressed by the Columbian athletic man mountain of a centre-back, Mina
If we sign Torreira and IF we can extend Ramsey it’s looking like a midfield of Ramsey Torreira and the recently extended Xhaka. This probably means a 4-3-3 which has no place for our new number 10 unless he is willing to play wide, and also means we have a shortage of pure wingers.
Of course I could also be completely wrong.
4-4-2 diamond or 4-1-4-1 with Özil and Xhaka in the middle and Ramsey and Micky on the wings but with a kind of free roles offensively. But I’d go with a 4-4-2 diamond. Against stronger opposition you could play Torreira on the 6, Xhaka and Elneny on the half positions and Ramsey on the 10. And then maybe even Micky as a second striker. Against weaker opposition you could play Xhaka on the 6, Ramsey and Micky on the half positions and Özil on the 10. And Laca and Auba in front of them. Would make us pretty flexible without… Read more »
Most of those formations lack width.
I really like the idea of a 4-2-2-2, with two of Xhaka, Torreira, or Elneny sitting deeper behind two of Ramsey, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi, or Özil. It would free those players to take some more risks while still giving us two deeper mids shielding the defense. I also think it suits Ramsey, Mkhitaryab, Iwobi and Özil more than a pure central number 10 role does. Additionally, I don’t think the lack of width from midfield would be too much of a problem either, as we don’t get width from our mids anyway, we get it from the fullbacks. Has the added… Read more »
And I should have said above: width is only important if you’re going to play with a lot of the ball and have to break a team down while they’re all in their own box. Emery has been making a lot of noise about playing high pressure defense, which to me means that he wants to force turnovers and break. You need directness there, not width
I c ur scope, I like it but I doubt we’d go 4222 in d epl (eauropa maybe)!
You do realize that you need wide midfielders defensively as well. Right?
No. Emery does not play 4-4-2, it’s out-dated and relies heavily on high work-rate classical wingers, and won’t help with creating passing triangles to break opp defense.
It’s either 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. People need to stop thinking in term of how to accommodate the ALL players in one formation. Someone is gonna be benched, period.
There’s some 60 games to play and most of the offensive players will play around 40 at most, so that gives you a bit of flexibility. Doesn’t solve the wingers issue though.
4 2 3 1. With Xhaka and Torreira. Ozil Ramsey Abu with Laca as number 9.
If the worst comes to pass and Ramsey leaves, what would you make of midfield three of Xhaka, Torreira and Mkhi with ozil sitting behind Aub and Laca as our strike force? Just curious. I do love Rambo, FYI
Thought that same exact thing…
Think we’d need to buy, surely, but maybe Mkhitaryan could slot in too
The idea that Ramsey’s negotiation’s not tracking as fast as should be is quite a disturbing piece of news this morning. I think it has to do with the big package handed out to Ozil in the last window. He’s probably using that as a yardstick to negotiate a hard bargain. If worst comes to it, I won’t be surprised if the board decides to sell rather than lose him on a free next summer or lose a lot of bargaining power by winter break (Sanchez scenario on my mind). I hope the board is not forced to sale, because… Read more »
From reports, it seems that Arsenal is targeting N’zonzi as a plan B? Does it mean that they have some doubts about completing the transfer as expected? I mean, bearing in mind that nothing is signed yet and his stocks might rise as his country stays more in the world cup with further good displays from him. #optimistic
If they lose him, that’d be the most disgraceful thing of the Loki era already.. I don’t even want to think about it.
N’zonzi would be a strange plan B when they’re completely different players. N’zonzi is more like Xhaka so maybe he’s being targeted as a back up for Xhaka? Suppose Elneny and maitland-niles would sub for torreira and Ramsey if either of them are at the club next season
Use all your Super Bobby powers to somehow pinch Mbeppe!
He is freaking good it’s ridiculous !! Always at the right place at the right time with his no nonsense face. I don’t know if you guys notice in both games vs Russia and vs Portugal, the guy was lying down trying to block shots with his head!! I can tell you many players will never do that!! he’s very brave and we really need that right now!
Get him in Emery! he’ll be a terrific signing.
I just swooned at the photo of Bobby P. and forgot to read the article:o)) -hope we get Torriera, tho’. Lucas The Terrier? I’ll get my coat…
He looked good to me in Uruguay’s last match but, as a way of judging a player, that is just barely more useful than watching his YouTube highlights. Banega looked brilliant, the missing piece that let Messi be Messi, in Argentina’s last group match. Against France, not so much.
Bobby speaks, and that’s all I need to be convinced.
I didn’t need much convincing, tbh. But my first statement still stands.
Shame we’re going to get gazumpted!
Shouldn’t Pires be at Colney?
Don’t think we should be too worried at this point that the deal hasn’t been completed. Samp’s president has confirmed his departure, Torreira has spoken at length about the club and crucially Uruguay are still at the World Cup. I don’t think we’re likely to see any more movement on the deal until Uruguay are knocked out. For what it’s worth I don’t think, as a defensive minded midfielder, he’s done enough at the tournament to justify a sudden increase in interest and a bidding war for his services. I imagine once Uruguay go out we’ll see them finalise all… Read more »
So emery has signed many players in one season than did Wenger in seasons? From where has the money all of a sudden poured from? Am so excited to hear this. Ive been a gooner for long and it has all been anger.