Arsenal: Top 3 statistical Lucas Torreira replacements

1. Ibrahim Sangare

If Arteta is looking for a more productive and playmaking defensive midfielder who also offers protection and athleticism in defensive phases, which is reasonable to assume given his replacing of Torreira with Dani Ceballos, then he need look no further than Ibrahim Sangare, a 22-year-old powerhouse for Toulouse.

Sangare has been misidentified. Because he is a powerful presence, black, rangy, and strong, many have labelled him as a destructive-type midfielder. In reality, he is a creative, driving playmaker who can dribble and pass and also happens to possess the frame of a hard-nosed destroyer. It is a very different prospect, the type of all-encompassing midfielder that Arteta might want.

Sangare plays 6.24 progressive passes per 90, a massive 5.12 passes into the final third per 90, maintains a completion rate of just short of 80%, and provides a total progressive distance of distribution (in yards, the distance towards the opposition goal all passes combine to) of 280.2 yards per 90 minutes.

He is also skilful with the ball. 1.53 dribbles completed per 90, a progressive carry distance of 136 yards per 90, and 1.2 touches in the penalty area per 90, showing that he is willing to break forward when given the opportunity to.

His defensive work is solid, if not quite at the same high rate. He averages 3.55 tackles per 90 and 1.53 interceptions per 90, but it is his inspiration with the ball that makes him the all-around deep-lying midfielder that Arteta believed Torreira could not be.

Should Arsenal look for a Torreira replacement this summer, then, Ndidi, Zakaria, and Sangare offer statistical solutions to the position.