Lucas Torreira got his Arsenal career to a flying start after completing his £26m transfer from Sampdoria. He was one of the best defensive midfielders in the league if not the world, for that first four(4) months. There were serious comparisons with Chelsea midfield general, N'golo Kante, but after running our of gas in at the start of 2019, Lucas Torreira has not hit such heights again.

Lucas Torreira did not suffer any notable injury in his first season at the Emirates, being last season, so his drop off in the second half of the season cannot really be put down to injury. Perhaps it's not wrong to suggest that those first four(4) months were just a rise in form which was above his usual level, and the more prolonged and supposed drop off is normal.

This is not to slate the diminutive Uruguayan in anyway, he's a very energetic player, and of course young with enough room for improvement, but with his relative lack of stamina and diminutive size which is really a stark contrast to the requirements of his position in the English Premier League, can Lucas Torreira be fully depended on the be the long term spine in the Arsenal midfield?

Reports from Italy earlier in the week linked Lucas Torreira with a return to Italy, with AC Milan reportedly interested in him with a touted price of €40m. Now this news has quite unsurprisingly raised eyebrows, with Torreira a fan favourite, but this must be look at without any sentiment nor emotion. Is Lucas Torreira a player Arsenal cannot afford to do without? Is he irreplaceable? All of this points to a 'NO' as its answers.

Lucas Torreira has proven a good signing, but for the lofty ambitions of the fans at least, and expectations on the club, Arsenal should be looking for an upgrade on Torreira whether or not he actually leaves. He's the only natural defensive midfielder on the team sheet and obviously can't do it all. If Arsenal had the chance to replace Torreira with Wilfred Ndidi, no one would actually turn it down.

For all the love we have for Lucas Torreira, he's really not a player that should cause a stir when talks of a possible transfer is raised. Lucas is good, buy definitely not irreplaceable.