Arsenal: Lucas Torreira and the completion of a dynamic midfield

Arsenal’s midfield showed a lot of promise last year, but they were missing one crucial cog. Lucas Torreira is that cog, and the confirmation completes everything.

Arsenal‘s midfield was a beautiful thing last year – at times. Aaron Ramsey‘s combination play with Granit Xhaka produced eight goals and fifteen assists in the Premier League alone. That tally ranks higher than than any other midfield in the Prem, bar Manchester City.

And, well, they have De Bruyne and Silva.

It’s a dynamic pairing that does more than most teams get out of their midfielders. There is no doubting that, and they both put in plenty of productivity around goals and assists as well.

The kicker of this whole scenario is that they were playing in a midfield trio for the majority of the year. It was that third, rotating member that was never able to complete and otherwise superb midfield.

Jack Wilshere held the role for the majority of the time, but he was so unconvincing that the team let him go. Other than that, it was either a midfield two, or a four man midfield with wingbacks. Essentially, it was the Ramsey and Xhaka show.

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The one thing that nearly everyone acknowledged about this midfield is that, for as dynamic as they were, they lacked the mobility to cover for their lofty offensive ambitions. Xhaka and Ramsey needed to have the other watch their backs, lest they were completely exposed.

Most of the time, either that didn’t happen, which left them exposed, or it did happen, and it limited their attacking punch.

Adding Lucas Torreira to that mix, which is finally confirmed, completes that midfield. He is the cover that they needed, the guy to watch their backs and sweep up the mess that they will inevitably spill from time to time.

And the best part about this – the absolute best – is that Torreira has so much upside beyond just ball-winning. The dynamism is going to be compiled on because Torreira knows how to score goals and he knows how to create chances (though he can develop there a bit).

As such, not only will he allow Xhaka and Ramsey to play at their absolute best, but his absolute best will be brought out as well. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

Next: Arsenal's End Of Season Player Rankings

I have to believe this is the perfect combination. I don’t see what could be better, and please don’t tell me Steven N’Zonzi. Bring on next season.

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