Over time, the Arsenal fanbase have been privileged to be the house of assorted skills up there as a few of the best in the course of the Premier League period.
The Gunners’ invincible season of 2003/04 will without end cement the membership in English soccer historical past – profitable the league title with out dropping a single fixture – a feat merely extraordinary.
That squad particularly contained quite a few icons, with the likes of Thierry Henry taking part in an enormous half of their success beneath former boss Arsène Wenger.
The French ahead scored 228 instances in 377 appearances for the membership, along with his spectacular report incomes him high spot because the membership’s all-time goalscorer.
Fellow attacker Dennis Bergkamp additionally captured the hearts of many throughout his 11-year stint in North London – that includes over 300 instances and scoring one of many membership’s most iconic targets along with his spin and end in opposition to Newcastle United.
The Dutch star was additionally part of the invincible squad, registering 11 objective contributions that season as he headed in the direction of retirement – however nonetheless demonstrating the limitless high quality he possessed.
Nonetheless, regardless of the aforementioned duo’s affect beneath Wenger in the course of the early 2000s, one different participant was an integral a part of the Frenchman’s plans – offering a strong basis on the coronary heart of the facet throughout his time within the capital.
Patrick Vieira’s time at Arsenal
Upon Wenger’s appointment at Highbury again in the summertime of 1996, the membership already employed quite a few key skills comparable to Ian Wright, Tony Adams and Martin Keown – with the Frenchman tasked with taking the membership to the subsequent degree.
It’s protected to say, that after his 22-year spell in North London, he did simply that, profitable three Premier League titles, alongside seven FA Cup triumphs, serving to the Gunners change into essentially the most profitable staff within the competitors’s historical past.
Nonetheless, throughout his earlier years on the helm, he was reliant on midfielder Patrick Vieira, along with his fellow countryman turning himself right into a membership icon following his time within the capital.
He arrived simply earlier than Wenger in 1996 after an unsuccessful stint at Italian giants AC Milan, with the midfielder an unknown amount to many – however he would shortly set up himself as one of many membership’s best-ever midfielders.
Vieira value the Gunners simply £3.5m, slotting straight into the backbone of Wenger’s facet and turning into a pivotal cog in his compatriot’s success throughout his tenure because the membership’s supervisor.
The midfielder’s no-nonsense strategy made him a monster hit with the supporters, permitting him to make 405 appearances for the Gunners throughout his nine-year spell at Highbury.
He was a part of an notorious battle with then Manchester United man Roy Keane as the 2 sides typically battled it out for bragging rights as England’s largest facet in the course of the late 90s and early 00s.
Nonetheless, Vieira would ultimately depart the membership in 2005 for £13.75m, becoming a member of Juventus and banking Arsenal a revenue of over £10m – while leaving his imprint on the membership without end.
The now 48-year-old gained 4 FA Cups and three Premier League titles throughout his time on the membership, with the membership desperately lacking his presence on the coronary heart of midfield after his departure.
That was till the summer season of 2018, when the membership made a big-money addition off the again of the World Cup, with the brand new signing doubtlessly turning into their new model of the French famous person.
The participant who was regarded as Arsenal’s new Vieira
After starring for Uruguay on the 2018 World Cup, midfielder Lucas Torreira joined Arsenal in a £26m deal from Sampdoria, with actual expectations of reworking the facet beneath new boss Unai Emery.
He could have been small in stature, however his aggressive ball-winning taking part in type made him an prompt hit and a key a part of the primary staff, making 50 appearances in all competitions throughout his first 12 months on the Emirates.
While he was nonetheless a key member of the squad throughout his second season in London, Torreira’s recreation time decreased, that includes 39 instances in all competitions upon the appointment of recent supervisor Mikel Arteta in December 2019.
The 28-year-old would subsequently be despatched on two separate mortgage spells to Atlético Madrid and Fiorentina to realize helpful first-team minutes, all however ending his time as an Arsenal participant.
His decline in minutes within the capital definitely took many unexpectedly, with lots of the fanbase evaluating him to membership legend Vieira throughout his early months on the Emirates.
“If the followers are evaluating me and my recreation to Patrick Vieira, that is superb. It makes me very proud however I must develop a bit earlier than I could be as tall as him! However he is a tremendous participant, I bear in mind getting up within the mornings in Uruguay to look at him. I really feel very comfortable and am seeking to assist the staff.” – Torreira on his Vieira comparisons
Nonetheless, his four-year spell as a Gunner would come to an finish in the summertime of 2022, departing the membership for £5.5m and becoming a member of Turkish Süper Lig facet Galatasaray – permitting for contemporary blood in Arteta’s facet as he aimed to push the membership in the direction of a primary league title for the reason that invincible season.
Finally, given his enormous switch charge, the transfer was a failure, with Torreira costing the membership a fortune regardless of his early promise throughout his time in North London.
First Impressions
What did pundits and followers alike take into consideration their new star signing once they arrived? Soccer FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ collection has every little thing you want.
How a lot Torreira value Arsenal
As beforehand talked about, the midfielder joined the membership for £26m six years in the past, a hefty charge on the time because the Gunners seemed to make a giant begin to life after the departure of Wenger.
Nonetheless, when combining his switch charge along with his weekly earnings, the deal value the membership an enormous quantity, particularly contemplating his lack of affect in the course of the latter stage of his time within the capital.
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How a lot Lucas Torreira value Arsenal (2018-2022) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Determine |
Value |
|
Per recreation |
89 |
£380,000 |
|
Per objective |
4 |
£8.5m |
|
Per help |
4 |
£8.5m |
|
Per yellow card |
14 |
£2.4m |
|
Per minute |
5266 |
£6.5k |
|
Stats by way of Transfermarkt & Capology |
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In response to Capology, the Uruguayan earned a reported £75k-per-week, which noticed him pocket £3.9m per season he featured within the membership’s first staff.
His two-year spell on the Emirates noticed him take house £7.8m in wages alone, which when mixed along with his switch charge noticed him value the membership a whopping £34m.
His early promise gave supporters a cause to be optimistic about his transfer, however in the end the transfer didn’t work out as they anticipated – costing them a fortune by the point of his departure.
The membership and Arteta made the appropriate name offloading Torreira, permitting him to play usually elsewhere, while additionally slicing their losses and stopping them from dropping any more cash of their hunt for title glory.
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