Unai Emery praised Lucas Torreira technical quality and in-game tactical acumen after the Uruguayan scored his second goal of the week to seal a hard-fought 1-0 win against Huddersfield.
On a largely frustrating afternoon for the Gunners, the Uruguayan popped up in the box on 83 minutes to net a terrific overhead kick from close range to break the Terriers’ resistance.
Having also netted against Sp*rs on Sunday, the 22-year-old has enjoyed a fine week and was rightly the focus of attention in the boss’ post-game press conference.
“Last week he scored and today he scored again. He has quality and his interpretation of the pitch tactically, and his perception in attacking moments and defensive moments.
“He’s very fast in his mind and his feet too. He can do very good work in defensive moments and, like today and last week, he can also get into the box and score like today.”
Very happy for this essential victory and for my second goal. Thanks to the fans for the great support. Let’s keep be focused.
Muy feliz por esta gran victoria y por mi segundo gol.
Gracias a los hinchas por el apoyo de siempre. Seguimos concentrados. #ComeOnGunners?#LT11 pic.twitter.com/oIuIMXz638— Lucas Torreira 34 (@LTorreira34) December 8, 2018
When Torreira signed for the Gunners from Sampdoria in the summer, it was suggested he might need time to settle in England before showing his true worth. While he was initially eased into first team action, he’s since become a lynchpin in midfield.
Asked whether the midfielder had exceeded expectations, Emery replied: “We want to break every expectation with all players.
“He’s improving and working hard every day with a very big commitment, very good behaviour.
“He also has the commitment every day to learn English. I meet him every day in the dressing room and the first thing I notice is his commitment, his behaviour, and then he has quality and personality too.”
At the end of a gruelling week, Lucas definitely deserves our once-in-a-lifetime Balloon d’Or award.
please extend his contract until 2029
New contract, a good week´s rest & unlimited amounts of matcha tea. Now!
Yerba mate
Oh, right. That!
I don’t know why I keep feeling we may not have lost Man city and Chelsea match if we had started him.. By the way Man city could not even earn a draw with Chelsky… Back to 5th on the table I guess or just maybe Leicester would help us out..
I for one like the fact that MC lost this season. Hopefully Liverpool wil loae as well. There will be only one Invincibles.
Has made a great impact, we’ve needed someone like him for years.
Glad it’s finally happened and Man City aren’t going to have an Invincibles season.
The Chavs won!! Fuck it!! But at least there’s only ONE Invincibles!!
I would take that over losing our invincible record…Guardiola is a good coach but without City’s unlimited budget, it wouldn’t have been this easy for them.
Hope they get kicked out of the CL next year.
As good as Guardiola is, it’d be a disgrace for any team to spend as much as they have and then claim the “Invincibles” tag
Actually we can’t lose our invincibles record. Others may well copy it in time, but we’ll always have been first.
Liverpool still unbeaten though and it would be insufferable from their fans if they end up going unbeaten.
nah. dont worry. the grass is slippery at Anfield. and if all else fails, we’ll just deliver some pizza to them.
i mean lagsana
I thought the pizza was a reference to Cesc chucking pizza at Ferguson, meaning when we go up north to play at Anfield, we’re gonna kick some Scouse ass
Here’s wishing Liverpool gets beaten by Mourihno’s orcs next week.
And a few more freak results for the top teams, and we keep grinding out wins like we did today, with a threadbare defense, and then come January, we get some typical Sven Mislintat reinforcements who fit right into our system, and we are still continuing our unbeaten run, and its April and we’re still up there, and its the last game of the season, we come out of nowhere and win the fucking league title, thank you, game over bitches!!
He only scores Go – La – Zos!
My favorite (favourite) Gunner. He’s a giant of a player.
(Sorry for pedantry, but he is a linchpin not lynchpin.)
Interesting debate https://grammarist.com/spelling/linchpin-lynchpin/
Thanks Pedant! Hope I wasn’t stepping on your pedantic toes. ?
Torreira is pure class, the way he plays and the way teams are starting to target him, we’re really going to have to protect him over the Xmas schedule.
Extend his contact ASAP
“Asked whether the midfielder had exceeded expectations, Emery replied: “We want to break every expectation with all players.”
Love hearing these things from the boss.
In all competitions, Torreira started 12 matches. Arsenal have won 8, drawn 4 and lost 0, with a goal differential of +16.
Love this dude.
My biggest issue right now is with Alex Iwobi.. one of our most improved players this season but.. he is not long term material.. he tries, but his tries are generally terrible – emery has gotten him to better, but, almost all of his crosses and shots are blocked by the first defender! come on man! he hits the first person almost always! as much as he has improved, he aint adding consistently enough and he is exactly the kind of player we do NOT need.. i think he has no potential… 1 in 100 odds, my grandma would contribute..… Read more »
Agree, Iwobe needs to improve or go.
It was laughing gas, right? Should be the Balloon D’LOLr…
Kun Fu Panda
There are some quarters who spout rubbish about him being the “best signing in the last 10 years for us”. Who is Santi Carzola? Torreira is not the best signing we’ve done but he is a VERY good signing who can get better and frankly one we needed since the dimunitive two footed Spaniard succumbed to injury 3 or 4 seasons past. Torreira and GUendouzi have really added to Granit’s game this season and transformed our midfield. Unless you are a typical pundit, its not difficult to see that this is one of the best central midfields in the PL… Read more »