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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Arsenal star Lucas Torreira would not get into Tottenham, Chelsea or Man Utd's midfield, says Paul Merson

Arsenal star Lucas Torreira is "not good enough" and wouldn't get into the starting line-ups of the Gunners' Premier League rivals, claims Paul Merson.

Torreira has quickly become a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium after a string of tough-tackling displays before boosting his reputation with a decisive goal against rivals Tottenham.

But former Gunner Merson is not on the Torreira bandwagon, insisting Arsenal's top-four rivals all have superior options in midfield and Unai Emery would be better off signing Waford's Abdoulaye Doucoure.

"Arsenal are now showing their true colours," he told Sky Sports. "Until they sort out the defence, they won't be able to achieve anything.

"Unai Emery will need a few windows to sort it out but the players they've purchased haven't been great. Everyone was raving about Lucas Torreira, but he's not that good. I said this a few months ago and everyone kicked up a stink.

"He only looks good as he's what Arsenal have needed for a long time, someone to run around and put their foot in. But, if you put him up for sale tomorrow then none of the top five clubs in the Premier League would be interested.

"They should sign Abdoulaye Doucoure at Watford - he'd walk into the team. I'd take him tomorrow morning. He's a much better player than Torreira and he scores goals. He's one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League - he could play for any of the top six.

"It seems no-one pays attention to him because he plays for Watford and fans will say, 'Why are we buying him, he's at Watford?' - but he's a proper player."

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