Arsenal: Lucas Torreira delivers on sky-high expectations

I had sky-high expectations for Lucas Torreira when he arrived at Arsenal in the summer. In Sunday’s win over Fulham, he delivered on them.

When the summer transfer window opened and Arsenal began a new era in the post-Arsene Wenger world, my keen priority for the team to address and invest in was a new defensive midfielder. It is a role that they have failed to find a solution to for well over a decade and has continually undermined the balance, structure and progress of the team.

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And so, when Sven Mislintat and his band of merry transfer men decided to splash £26 million on Sampdoria’s Lucas Torreira, I was extremely excited. He was the most expensive signing of the summer window for the club; his acquisition was a clear priority.

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Because of my desire for the club to spend at the position, allied with my admiration for the player, I had huge expectations for Torreira, perhaps too huge. I truly believed him to be a midfield-altering addition that could completely revolutionise the shape of the team, something that I, among many, many others, have been calling for for far too long. And while he had not played poorly since his arrival, I was a little underwhelmed — this is not a criticism of Torreira per se, just a consequence of the expectations I had for him.

But in Sunday’s 5-1 win over Fulham, which was undoubtedly the Gunners’ best performance of the season, Torreira played at the level that I was expecting he would from day one. He was the best player on the pitch, even with Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick notching two goals apiece, and instrumental to the much improved collective display.

Torreira made six interceptions, more than any other Arsenal player in a single match this season, won 100% of his tackles, snapped at the Fulham midfielders consistently, not allowing them a moment’s peace on the ball as they looked to scythe through a notoriously vulnerable back four, and forced a myriad of errors and wayward passes to stent attacking moves.

He also looked more comfortable in possession than he has previously, displaying a nice turn of speed and capable balance to shimmy his way past and around defenders and escape a high-pressing scheme, which is something that Arsenal have struggled at greatly this season, and even working his way into advanced positions at times, especially as the game wore on.

He was relentless in his industry and work rate, committed to challenges, covered huge amounts of ground to screen the defence, and showed great stamina, running hard well into the 90 minutes, even when those around him were beginning to tire. This was Torreira at his best. This was the Torreira that I expected.

The midfielder was eased into action this season, not starting the first five Premier League games. But now he is an established feature of this team, and it looks substantially the better for it. Torreira is delivering on what was expected.