Emery: Torreira Is Ready To Start Against Chelsea

Unai Emery has confirmed that Arsenal’s Lucas Torreira is ready to make his full debut against Chelsea on the weekend (via Arsenal.com).

It’s fair to say that Arsenal fans have been excited by the prospect of Lucas Torreira in a Gunners shirt.

The Uruguay midfielder completed his transfer to the Emirates last month and made his Premier League debut as a substitute against Manchester City at the weekend.

He impressed during his cameo but Gunners fans have been wondering whether the club’s new number 11 will be ready to start against Chelsea tomorrow and during his pre-match press conference, Emery has confirmed that he will be.

“Yes, he is okay every day and is training good,” Emery told the press. “He is now with the team and knowing and learning English conversation with us and can understand all the things we want to do tactically on the pitch.

“He is okay, the first match against City he played 15 to 20 minutes and I think this is good, I want to continue with him improving and to be okay to play.”

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Emery was then asked where we can expect to see Torreira start on the pitch.

“We can speak about the No 6, the No 8 and the No 10 [roles],” the Spaniard continued.

“Torreira today is a 6, 8. Normally every player has two positions – Torreira is 6, 8. Maybe also Elneny is 6 and 8. Xhaka maybe also 6, 8. Matteo [Guendouzi] maybe 6, 8 or 8, 6.

“Maybe another player, a more attacking player like Aaron Ramsey, he is more of an 8, 10 – but this possibility to play with two or three midfielders, it depends on each match whether to change or not and the demand in each match. Whether we can do one midfielder more either more attacking or more defensive, it depends.”

So, it seems as if Lucas Torreira could be starting in what Emery sees as the number 6 position. Presumably, that will be the one utilised by Matteo Guendouzi during the first half of last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City.