Skip to content

Paul Merson says Lucas Torreira has changed Arsenal

Watch Southampton vs Arsenal live on Sky Sports Premier League at 1.30pm on Super Sunday

Lucas Torreira during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on December 1, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image: Lucas Torreira has brought Arsenal exactly what they needed in midfield, says Paul Merson

Paul Merson believes Arsenal have been crying out for a Lucas Torreira for over a decade, and insists the midfielder has transformed the side.

Torreira, 22, was one of Unai Emery's first signings at Arsenal, coming in for £26m from Sampdoria following an impressive World Cup with Uruguay.

The midfielder has shone in recent weeks, picking up man-of-the-match and scoring in wins over both Tottenham and Huddersfield, and Merson is full of praise.

Live Renault Super Sunday

He told Sky Sports: "They've been crying out for someone like him since Gilberto Silva and Patrick Vieira. He gets around people, closes players down, gets everybody fighting. He's not a natural passer, but he sets the tempo.

Lucas Torreira of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on November 2, 2018 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Image: Uruguay international Torreira joined Arsenal from Sampdoria in the summer

"I've said all along, for years and years; Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world with the ball. But for the last four or five years they've been one of the worst in the world without the ball. He has changed that.

When Torreira gets around people, it's a domino effect, and everybody else rallies and gets around the opposition players.

"And his attitude is great; he leaves nothing on the pitch and gets stuck in. He gets people going. He's done absolutely outstandingly well, and came up with two massive goals in the last couple weeks."

Also See:

Such is Torreira's suitability at the Emirates, Merson believes he would not necessarily fit in at a stronger club at the moment, and says he has room for improvement.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Matt Le Tissier analyses Arsenal's lack of dominance against Huddersfield and the importance of Torreira

"Liverpool wouldn't buy him tomorrow morning, I wouldn't have thought any of the top four would. He can and will get better, but he's done great.

"They needed it, we all knew that, Arsene Wenger knew it but he was too stubborn to go and get someone.

"He could be playing at Southampton and wouldn't get a mention, or Burnley. No-one would mention it. It's just that Arsenal needed it so badly."

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Around Sky