Arsenal Reloaded: 3 players who need to get back to best

1. Lucas Torreira

Lucas Torreira was the best player on the pitch in Arsenal’s 4-2 victory over Spurs last season. Playing in tandem with Granit Xhaka to anchor Unai Emery’s 3-4-3 formation, the Uruguayan was absolutely superb. Scrappy, energetic, full of intensity and passion. He broke up play time and time again, an utter nuisance as he consistently stented Spurs’ offensive rhythm.

This was the very best of Lucas Torreira as an all-action defensive midfielder. He even showed his offensive qualities when pushed into a more advanced role, scoring the final goal with superb finish — the less said about Torreira in the box-to-box role, the better.

When in this form, Torreira is an elite defensive midfielder and the ideal anchorman for the Arsenal team. He is also entirely unique within the squad. He is more defensively astute than any other midfielder in the squad, he is a tougher tackler and smarter reader of the game, and he has the athleticism that has always been lacking from the likes of Granit Xhaka and Dani Ceballos.

Whether Arsenal need a new tough-tackling defensive midfielder in the transfer window is a debate to be had. But if Mikel Arteta is willing to commit to Torreira upon his return from injury, they might not have to. Torreira was superb, and still is superb. He just needs to be trusted.