Lucas Torreira has seen his “warrior” qualities hailed by Arsenal legend Robert Pires, with the Uruguayan considered to be shrewd addition for the Gunners.
After a long period without a recognised and trusted midfield enforcer, Unai Emery’s side were compelled to invest in Torreira after seeing him star at the 2018 World Cup.
In the end, a £26 million ($34m) deal was struck to take the 22-year-old to north London from Sampdoria.
He has been eased into Premier League life by Emery, but has impressed after breaking into the Spaniard’s plans and has already earned the respect of an Arsenal ‘Invincible’.
Pires told Sky Sports: “I love Lucas Torreira.
“When you play in his position you need to be a warrior, and he’s a warrior.
“He likes to fight a good fight with the other players and technically he’s very good. He has good ability with the ball, good vision and now I understand why Arsenal paid a lot of money for him.
“He’s a very good player.”
Pires played alongside some top midfield talent in his day, with Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva forming part of some iconic sides.
Arsenal’s class of 2018-19 have some way to go before they can claim to be back at that level, but Emery is being backed to deliver success after inheriting the managerial reins from long-serving Arsene Wenger.
“It’s very difficult for me to compare,” Pires said of the new era at Emirates Stadium.
“With Arsene Wenger it was very good. Unfortunately this page is finished so we need to focus on the present and prepare for the future.
“The present for Arsenal, especially for the fans, is to be passionate with Unai Emery.
“Of course he won with Sevilla and he won with Paris Saint-Germain, but this is a new challenge for him. It’s a new team, a new club, new football and the Premier League is more competitive.
“Maybe it will be difficult in the beginning but I think he can make a success with Arsenal. I believe in him.”
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