Arsenal: Lucas Torriera has only one obvious flaw

It’s official. Lucas Torreira is an Arsenal player. The midfielder, I believe, is an excellent addition. But he has just one obvious flaw: a lack of height.

After weeks, even months, of conjecture and suggestion, even if that suggestion was more confirmation that it ever was a mere baseless media rumour, it’s finally official: Lucas Torreira is an Arsenal player. How happy I am to be writing that sentence.

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

If you have read any of my former pieces on Torreira over the past few weeks, then you will know that I am a huge fan of Torreira. I have not been tentative to extol his virtues, to praise his snappiness in the tackle, his athleticism, his ability to break up play and instigate attacks from deep.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 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
• Mikel Arteta provides Gabriel Martinelli injury update after Everton win

But there is one flaw that I do feel it is important to recognise: his lack of physical presence. Torreira stands at only 5-foot-6. He does not let that stop him. He is more than willing to put his body on the line, throwing himself into challenges, providing a bite and steel to the midfield, attributes that have been lacking at Arsenal for some time. However, the lack of height is a little concerning, especially considering the other midfielders that are already in the squad.

Of the midfielders that the Gunners already have, only Granit Xhaka is over six foot, and even then he is only marginally over six foot. All of the other central midfielders that are currently in the squad are under that mark. Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles. All of these have an element of athleticism and speed to their game, but they are not the bulldozing type like a Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic or Fernandinho.

Now, the game is changing and the need for those physically dominant players is lessening. And the likes of hard-nosed, technically deficient but tough-tackling individuals are decreasing in both need and frequency.

Nevertheless, I still feel that Arsenal could find themselves overpowered with a midfield trio of Xhaka, Ramsey and Torreira. It is not the most physically dominant of midfields. Compare that to the power of Manchester United’s with Pogba and Matic; compare that to Spurs’ midfield with Moussa Dembele, Victor Wanyama and Eric Dier; compare that to Liverpool’s midfield with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.

This is not to say that the Gunners’ midfield will be poor simply because they are small. Spain and Barcelona have proven that small players are capable of comprising the best midfields in the history of the game. But there is a weakness that they could find themselves overpowered against the bigger, stronger teams, especially in the Premier League, a league renowned for its physicality.

Next: Arsenal: 2017/18 player rankings

Torreira is a very good player. But he does come with a flaw. Let’s hope that it’s not a fatal one.