Why Torreira should be an upgrade on Xhaka rather than partner for Arsenal
Having finally announced the signing of Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria following the midfielder’s exit from the World Cup with Uruguay, Unai Emery’s new look Arsenal side is taking shape.
The 22-year-old has become the Gunners’ fourth summer signing since the new manager was appointed, joining Stephan Lichtsteiner, Sokratis and Bernd Leno through the Emirates entrance.
The most expensive of the new arrivals thus far, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Torreira is the midfield anchor that they’ve been praying for following a number of failed attempts to fulfil that role.
The latest in a long line of players that have fallen short in effectively shielding the defence is Granit Xhaka, though rather than serving as a replacement to the Swiss, Torreira’s arrival is tipped to offer the former Gladbach star a little more freedom.
Emery has made it clear that he views Xhaka as a key player in his plans, with the 25-year-old penning a new five-year contract earlier this summer, to the bewilderment of some supporters.
Since signing for £35m two years ago it’s fair to say that the Switzerland international has divided opinion in the capital, though few could really defend his lack of ability to do just that. Defend.
Xhaka isn’t mobile enough to be an elite ball winner and doesn’t have the discipline to anchor the midfield. At his best the midfielder is a progressive passer, registering seven assists last season - albeit four of which came from corners - but Torreira offers a similarly impressive range of distribution and efficiency in possession.
In a less dominant Samp side the new signing averaged 60.8 passes per game to Xhaka’s 82 last season and completed a marginally greater percentage (87.2% to 86.9%). Defensively the South American is far superior though, with an average of 4.8 tackles and interceptions combined per game to his new teammates’ 3.1.
The young Uruguayan has won possession in the midfield third more times than any other player in Serie A since the start of last season (317), and also made the most tackles and interceptions combined in that time (356). Xhaka’s respective figures are 267 and 230 respectively over the same period at Arsenal, so Gunners fans are justifiably optimistic that their new man could fill a gaping hole in the side.
The suggestion is, then, that Xhaka will partner up with Torreira in the middle of the park, though it’s difficult to see what he would really bring to the side where someone a little more multi-faceted like Aaron Ramsey would offer more variety.
It will be intriguing to see just how Emery lines up his midfield next season, with Mesut Ozil and Henrik Mkhitaryan to factor in too, but doing so with both Xhaka and Torreira at its base would be unnecessary.
