Arsenal secured the services of star midfielder Lucas Torreria last summer in a deal worth £26 million, but things could have been so much different at the Emirates.
According to The Athletic, cited by the Daily Mail, Unai Emery wanted to bring in World Cup winner Steven Nzonzi, however, Arsenal officials persuaded the Gunners boss to sign the Uruguayan in a last-ditch presentation showcasing Torreira’s talents.
The pair had worked together during their time at Sevilla, with Emery initially viewing the 30-year-old as the dominant holding midfielder the Gunners were craving.
Nzonzi’s parent club is now Serie A outfit AS Roma, however, the former Blackburn and Stoke man is now on loan at Galatasaray.
So, should the Gunners have listened to Emery last summer and brought in Nzonzi?
Read Arsenal verdict
It’s hard to give a definitive answer, as Torreira has impressed during his 12-month stint at the Emirates.
The 23-year-old was a regular for Emery last season and was one of a few shining lights in Arsenal’s midfield.
Nzonzi would have given Emery that extra physicality in front of the back four, with Arsenal still lacking that figure following Patrick Vieria’s departure 14 years ago.
The two are opposites in terms of physical structure, and with the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Joe Willock showing promise in the early stages of the current campaign, it seems extremely unlikely that the Gunners will go back on for Nzonzi in the future.
