Opinion: This Arsenal outcast should not be sold and instead given a chance next season

Lucas Torreira will return to Arsenal after Fiorentina did not trigger the €15m buy option. Torreira was loaned out to the Serie A outfit for the 2021/22 season and had a decent spell in Italy.

Torreira joined Arsenal in 2018 from Sampdoria for £26m and had an impressive debut season. The Uruguayan’s Arsenal career began to fall apart when former boss Unai Emery started playing him out of position.

Official. Fiorentina won’t trigger the buy option for Lucas Torreira from Arsenal, no agreement on €15m fee to be paid within today. ⛔️🇺🇾 #AFC

“I’m sad – I did my best to stay here but someone didn’t want…”, Torreira says.

He’s now back at Arsenal, out of contract in 2023. pic.twitter.com/qddRLYi4Ol

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 14, 2022

That was one of the reasons that made the 26-year-old unsettled in north London. He was eventually loaned out to Atletico Madrid for the 2020/21 season after Arsenal attempted to use him as a makeweight for the Thomas Partey transfer.

Now set for a return, Mikel Arteta could try and convince him to stay. The Gunners had midfield woes when Thomas Partey picked up a season ending injury which played a part in Arsenal’s failed top four objective.

Torreira celebrates scoring a goal against Tottenham in 2018.

Partey’s fitness is unreliable and although Mohamed Elneny’s signed a contract extension, fans were calling for the club to sign a defensive midfielder.

Arsenal fans were left disappointed after longer-term target Yves Bissouma joined Tottenham for just £25m. Bissouma was always keen on a move to Arsenal but the club failed to bring him in despite the genuine interest.

The latest reports claim Youri Tielemans is close to joining Arsenal, Tielemans is a deep-lying playmaker and will likely compete with Granit Xhaka. Arteta began to deploy Xhaka in an advanced role, easing him off defensive duties.

Torreira’s return could be beneficial especially now that Arsenal will be playing more games compared to last season. Arteta must convince him to stay unless the club are planning on signing a quality defensive midfielder.