Arsenal: Lucas Torreira much more than just “what was needed”

Arsenal got a gem in Lucas Torreira, but Paul Merson isn’t sold on the Uruguayan’s ability beyond the gap he filled. Could he be more wrong?

I thought it was pretty unanimous that everyone was on the same page with Lucas Torreira. The entire Arsenal world seemed united behind him, and when Paul Merson started talking, I thought he was going to be among the masses.

He pointed out how he has changed things, how he as been fantastic, and how there is still room for improvement. Fair enough. That bit is true. But it’s what he says after that that has me shaking my head in confusion.

"“Liverpool wouldn’t buy him tomorrow morning, I wouldn’t have thought any of the top four would. He can and will get better, but he’s done great… He could be playing at Southampton and wouldn’t get a mention, or Burnley. No-one would mention it. It’s just that Arsenal needed it so badly.”"

Given the brand of play that Liverpool engage in, I actually think they would love to have Lucas Torreira. Fabinho hasn’t been a knock-out punch for them and Wijnaldum is reliable enough, but who would take him over Torreira and the resources that he offers?

That isn’t what really irked me though, what really irks me is this notion that if he were playing at Southampton or Burnley, he wouldn’t be getting noticed. That he is only getting noticed because “Arsenal needed it so badly.”

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That’s rubbish. Complete rubbish. What Arsenal needed was a ferocious ball-winner who would put up N’Golo Kante like numbers. Torreira hasn’t done that. He’s done the ferocious bit, but he actually hasn’t been winning back possession all that much.

It’s not the defensive midfielder that many of us had in mind. It’s what he brings apart from those things that makes him special on any team – that mentality and that intangible to be in the right place at the right time, influencing play. Not the tackles or the Defensive Midfield label. None of that – which is exactly what fans wanted – is what makes Torreira who he is.

The sort of passion that he plays with, the determination, that doesn’t fly under the radar. And if you want to talk about the intensity, that’s great too, he brings some fantastic intensity. But Sead Kolasinac brought it too. Granit Xhaka has it when needed and even Mustafi and Lichtsteiner have been known to play with a certain brand of intensity.

Torreira is certainly the kingpin of those mentioned (barring maybe Kolasinac) but again, it wasn’t as lacking as it once was.

I can’t wrap my head around this notion that Torreira is only getting such acclaim because the Gunners needed him so badly. He has done so much more than “what was needed,” that this fact alone dispels this concept.

I feel like I’m banging my head against the wall, though. Paul Merson will Paul Merson and Lucas Torreira will Lucas Torreira. Whatever gets lost in between is their business, and mine to point a finger and laugh at.