Arsenal: 5 key players vs Manchester United in FA Cup

1. Lucas Torreira

Every aspect of the game is made easier when you win the battle of the midfield. The defenders have to defend less and the attackers can attack more. Conversely, the opposing attackers attack less and their defenders have to defend more.

Without wanting to make this sound too rudimentary, that’s obviously what we want. If we can find a way to disrupt them at the midfield core, where Pogba is going to be feeling pretty good about himself, then so many of the potential problems go away.

Lucas Torreira won nine tackles against Chelsea. He was everywhere. So was the entire Arsenal midfield. They made Jorginho look helpless, the made Kante look deflated and they made Kovacic irrelevant.

Pogba is a different ballgame, as is the rest of the United attack, but neutralize that threat before it can even get its feet underneath and you will be on the easiest road possible to a berth in the next round.

That’s Torreira’s job as the designated disruptor. Doesn’t matter what else he does on the day, if he can reclaim possession with the same intensity that he did against Chelsea, then we are in good shape.