After receiving criticism for his use of Lucas Torreira this season, Unai Emery defended the way he sets up the Uruguayan in his Arsenal team.
In the 2018/19 campaign, the 23-year-old starred as a more defensive minded midfielder. Energetic and alert, he made the most tackles at the club (65) and the second-most interceptions (41) which made him a quick fan favourite.
This term, however, Emery has tasked Torreira with becoming more attacking. An attribute he finds important in his deep lying midfielders.
As a result, it has been made public by the player's agent that he isn't at ease in his new role and that Napoli have contacted Arsenal about his services.
"But what is a defensive midfielder? We need that position for the capacity to build up, it's a big responsibility," Emery said in response.
"He can play as a defensive midfielder but we need a defensive midfielder [to be] offensive because the build up for us is very important. At the moment he is in that process.
"He can learn and improve but needs time, and at the moment to give him that responsibility as a defensive midfielder but building up and creating a lot of combinations with our team, he needs more time.
"At the moment for his position on the pitch he's helping us with two midfielders because the pressure he deposits was the best of our midfielders and his capacity to get in the box, to get opportunities to score, is very good for the team."
In Torreira's debut season, he did show some ability in effecting games as an offensive weapon but these moments were rare.
His goals against Tottenham and Huddersfield came against disorientated defences and his Europa League strike came as a result of his defensive qualities in midfield.
Feeling like the 23-year-old can excel in a more offensive role, Emery seemed determined to find the balance between the Torreira of last year and this year.
"I showed him some movies about his best performances with us and how he can improve," he added.
"He is young. His process here is starting. He started playing in the Premier League last year and he progressed, but this year he needs to progress again.
"He is a very good player, important for us, and his focus needs to be with us 100%. His response to me was positive, this morning (November 21) and yesterday (November 20), and then we showed how he can improve for our capacity of our necessary tactical movement with different players."
Although Torreira has been used in his more natural role for Uruguay, he has shown glimpses of what Emery may be looking for.
Starting for La Celeste in their 2-2 draw with Argentina, he stole the show just after the half-hour mark. Pinging a cross field pass out wide, Torreira caught up with play and upon receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he dinked an inch-perfect ball over Argentinian defence.
He found Suarez who assisted Cavani to give Uruguary the lead.
Producing moments like this for his country, Emery is confident that he can do the same now that he is back at Arsenal.
"He's helping us, he's sometimes playing well, he's being consistent but needs I think to learn or improve in that issue," the Arsenal boss said.
"At the moment his performance and contribution with us is positive. But continue demanding himself to improve. We need him with his behaviour and his commitment playing in the position we are using him.
"Then when his process is better or taking more experience, he can take more responsibility."
