Arsenal and Lucas Torreira: N’Golo Kante lite

Arsenal are being linked with 22-year-old Sampdoria midfielder Lucas Torreira. The Uruguayan is very much an N’Golo Kante lite and could be an excellent addition.

Arsenal’s need for a defensive midfielder has been a crippling one for many, many years. You could perhaps trace it all the way back to the slow easing out of Gilberto Silva over a decade ago. Having the same, disastrous weakness for such an extended period is not a good way to build a successful team.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast right here

Part of the problem came in the summer of 2016. Leicester City had just won the Premier League title in one of the most remarkable campaigns in the history of all sport and both the Gunners and London rivals Chelsea were on the lookout for midfield help. Leicester, in N’Golo Kante, had the perfect solution.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

As we all know, it was Chelsea who won the race, acquiring the spritely, relentless midfielder, pairing him with Nemanja Matic and waltzing to the title thanks to Antonio Conte’s revolutionary 3-4-3 system. In the same window, Arsenal signed Granit Xhaka, the man who Wenger tended to trust in the defensive midfield since with varying success at best.

And so, two years later, but this time under new management, the red half of north London again find themselves searching for a player that they have been unable to find for more than a decade. Nevertheless, if recent reports from Italy are to be believed, it seems as though the club may have finally recognised the perfect individual to fill their need. Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira, who allegedly has a £21 million release clause in his contract, is the subject of interest from a vast array of clubs including Arsenal.

The Uruguayan has flourished in a defensive midfield role for Sampdoria, is included in the national team’s World Cup squad, and at only 22, offers a viable option for the next decade. And per the defensive statistics, his style, and his performances since dropping deeper from an attacking midfield role into an anchoring one, he could be an extremely viable one.

Last year, Xhaka, for point of reference, averaged 2.1 tackles and 1.0 interceptions per 90 minutes. Torreira, on the other hand, averaged 2.8 tackles and 2. 0 interceptions per 90 minutes, both substantial improvements on the Swiss international. Now, he does not reach the busy heights of Kante — 3.3 tackles and 2.5 interceptions per 90 minutes –, but he is certainly built in the same mould as the Ivorian.

There are questions regarding his height. 5-foot-6 in the notoriously physical Premier League is a little concerning, especially considering Arsenal are already quite a slight team. But Kante, 5-foot-7, is proof that it is possible to perform the role at an extremely high standard without having the traditional height and stature that used to be looked for at the position.

Next: Arsenal: 3 youth players that may need to be ready

Is Torreira as capable as Kante? No. He isn’t. But then, he is only 22 and has plenty of time to grow and develop. And if £21 million, even if Arsenal are only able to sign Kante-lite, then I am all for it.