Arsenal Vs Liverpool: 5 things we learned – Emery era starts now

2. Lucas Torreira: Bargain

When Liverpool signed Fabinho for £40 million early in the summer window, many felt that Arsenal had missed an opportunity to solve one of their deepest-rooted problems: the lack of a strong, secure, screening defensive midfielder. Little did they know that in a matter of weeks not only would the club solve such a vulnerability, but it would do so for nearly half the price and with a more complete player.

Fabinho faced off with his inadvertent adversary, Lucas Torreira, here. He was utterly outplayed. Where Fabinho trudged around the pitch, every touch sapping confidence, dragging him further into the mire, Torreira was spritely, vibrant, inventive. Fabinho was off the pace, both literally, he looked slow, especially in short spaces, and figuratively, his play on the ball, his speed of thought, his anticipation and reading of the game were all a little slow. Torreira was the complete opposite.

The little Uruguayan was the best player on the pitch, building on what has been an extremely impressive start to life in north London, further establishing himself as the key cog in the heart of the midfield. Torreira is a brilliant footballer, the perfect solution to Arsenal’s problems. And all for £26 million. What a bargain.