The signing of Lucas Torreira in the summer of 2018 brought a jolt of excitement to the Emirates Stadium.
The Uruguayan midfielder had only just finished representing his country at the World Cup, and now Arsenal had him wearing red.
It’s not unfair to say central midfield has been an issue for the Gunners in recent years. The pairing of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit set a high bar for Arsenal central midfielders in the late 1990s, and the likes of Cesc Fabregas only enhanced that reputation.
To his credit, Torreira’s career with Arsenal started well. Signed by Unai Emery, his energy and aggression won him many fans and even saw Vieira’s song rewritten to incorporate his name.
Unfortunately, under Mikel Arteta, it would seem Torreira does not have a future at the club.
His absence from the first-team, coupled with a string of reports linking him with a move away, has led to a sense of inevitability about his departure.
It may leave some fans asking why it hasn’t worked out for Torreira and why he is seen as a good option for a club like Atletico Madrid, but not Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola has in the past argued that midfield is where the game is won or lost, and for Arteta this position also plays a vital role.
When Arteta first arrived he corrected some of the mistakes his predecessor had made.
Emery’s decision to deploy Torreira as a makeshift number ten was not the correct use of the player’s skills and looked a poor decision. It derailed his momentum and saw Torreira become a victim of Emery’s odd tactical decisions.
When Arteta first arrived, Torreira saw his form improve, in no small part because he was used in his natural position as a defensive midfielder.
In time, however, the same things that endeared Torreira to Arsenal fans also limited his chances under Arteta as the Spaniard sought to impose his style on the team.
The Uruguayan’s all action and combative style undoubtedly has a place in the game, but it is not what Arteta wants.
The Spaniard is keen for his midfielders to control the tempo and provide a different type of defensive performance in central midfield. Granit Xhaka was quickly identified as a key component of Arteta’s midfield and it became about who would play alongside him.
When consulting the data, it’s clear Dani Ceballos was better suited to this role than Torreira, with Matteo Guendouzi’s situation complicated by his actions during the defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion.
The emergence of Ceballos under Arteta quickly overshadowed Torreira in large part because of Ceballos’ ability to pass through the lines, operate in tight spaces, and provide a more measured defensive style.
Last season Torreira managed fewer defensive duels per 90 minutes (5.89) than both Guendouzi (7.2) and Ceballos (8.24), and he also had a lower win percentage when it came to defensive duels (source: Wyscout).
Top of the trio was Guendouzi (59.21%) finishing ahead of Ceballos (57.83%) and Torreira (52.78%).
Although Torreira excelled when it came to interceptions per 90 minutes (5.29) compared to Ceballos (3.47) and Guendouzi (4.6) the Spaniard had better numbers than Torreira when it came to key passes per 90 minutes (0.25 compared to 0.22), final third pass accuracy (82.97% compared to 77.27%), through passes per 90 minutes (1.39 compared to 0.76), and progressive passes per 90 minutes (9.23 compared to 5.67).
Overall, it’s a disappointing way for Torreira’s Arsenal career to end, with the defensive midfielder better suited to a different role.
The 24-year-old was seen as evidence of the club’s bright future, while also embodying the kind of midfielder that made Arsenal such an irresistible force under Emery’s predecessor Arsene Wenger.
He will leave Arsenal after only a brief stay, but with many fans eager to see him do well, his departure is a consequence of Arteta’s evolving vision for the club.
