Mikel Arteta has thanked technical director Edu for unearthing summer signing Nuno Tavares following the left-back’s impressive start to life at Arsenal.
Signed as back-up to Kieran Tierney, the 21-year-old was handed his first Premier League start on Friday night in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa and was quick to showcase his impressive athletic and technical capabilities.
Given his relative lack of experience, the manager was impressed the ex-Benfica man wasn’t afraid to take risks.
“That’s something that we really liked about Nuno when we were looking at him, and credit to Edu and the scouting department when they were doing the process because that is something that we have discussed a lot because we want a certain character to play for Arsenal,” Arteta told Arsenal.com.
“To deal with that pressure, to be able to perform straight away when you are needed and to go from not playing to playing straight away, and to have this capacity to do what he did. So credit to the boy.
“One of the biggest qualities he has is that he is not fazed at all when is playing. He was not fazed to make a debut like he did, the risks that he takes, the actions that he puts in place.
“Plus what you can see, his physicality, he is naturally a very gifted athlete. He can run and he can change speed and direction, and technically he is very gifted.
“But for me the most important thing is that he is a defender and he needs to defend first, and then he can provide the rest of his qualities.”
Tavares could well feature again tonight as Arsenal take on Leeds United in the Carabao Cup. The club is yet to provide a definitive update on the fitness of Kieran Tierney although we know the Scot missed Friday’s game due to a slight ankle problem.
Nuno with Kola in reserve?
I kinda forgot Kola is still with us. Seems logical to do as you say. No need to risk KT unless there is some plan to get minutes in
This boy looks genuinely good. Portugal has produced many talents in the past decade. Adventurous, skillful but also strong players who can tough it out at the top level. Let’s hope he is managed properly and not like Saliba, etc.
How does Tavares who has played first team football with Arsenal compare with Saliba who has not? Besides, there is no indication of Arteta’s unwillingness to use Tavares.
If you want to comment on the Saliba situation, I suggest you wait for a relevant article, and not attempt to squeeze him into an irrelevant piece.
I absolutely love comments like this. They prove my theory that this club is mostly supported by complete idiots. Keep ’em coming.
*slow clap*
Seeing as you probably consider your self a supporter of the club, I’ll say your theory is spot on!
Saliba wouldn’t have played all those minutes if he stayed. That loan move could prove to be so vital in his Arsenal career. Unless Arteta was lying, the club wanted to give him continuous games and that’s the reason he was sent out on loan.
Yeah Arteta and Edu rate him, he needs minutes to develop which aren’t available at Arsenal. Much better going on loan than waiting for cup minutes.
Much ado about nothing.
A window with 100% successful signings. Edu might have done the impossible.
5/6 for me, with a rather sizeable question mark over Lokonga’s head… still pretty great though to be fair.
Controversial, I don’t think we’ve seen the best of Sambi yet as there’s more competition for his position and therefore he hasn’t played as much as the others (barring Tavares). I suspect the question mark will depart you very soon! Here’s hoping.
Yeah, Edu was getting pelters this season at the beginning, but his signings have been perfect. It genuinely feels like we have a decent squad now, and going forward for a number of transfer windows, it can be all about trying to find top quality rather than trying to address squad issues.
He did neglect or at least did not sort our MF. We are very light in terms of quality and it was a gaping hole from before last season finished.
Cant criticise too much though seeing as the others have been looking good.
RB – DMF/CM – CF for next season.
Tavares, Gabriel (s), Lakonga, White, Ramsdale, Tomi, Ode … it seems this inexperienced manager has been part of some acquisitions with a success ratio most experienced managers would die for. But hey, what we really need is ownership and their experienced managers that will kill players and saw them up into little pieces if they need motivation, right?
I would certainly say the pressure was on Arteta and Edu to get every signing right the past 2 summers with limited resources. Sure we spent a lot, but we have a lot of work to do and we need to not waste a single penny. Largely, I think they’ve been successful – not extraordinary, I don’t think we’ve unearthed an unknown world beater – but they’ve certainly fit the bill for our plan. I’m anxious for January – I think its clear where the next steps are, Central Midfield, Central striker. Let’s hope the success continues.
While we may not have unearthed a worldie in the last two summer windows we have, during the same period, discovered two potential world class players from the academy. Some resources can be unlimited!
I do not disagree with that at all !
Arsenal’s summer purchase is the best collection since ’12, the year Santi, Giroud and Podolski were signed.
Now, we need to gradually refresh the forward line, and we will be back among the contenders.
Credit to Edu, now we are signing players who “can run and can change speed and direction”