Unai Emery questioned about handling of Arsenal signing

Arsenal manager Unai Emery Photo: Screen grab

Gary Breen has expressed his bemusement at Unai Emery’s reluctance to start Lucas Torreira in the Arsenal team.

The Uruguay international is still waiting to make his first Premier League start following his summer move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal signed Torreira in a £26m deal from Serie A side Sampdoria to bolster Emery’s options in the middle of the park.

The Gunners manager has preferred to use Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi in midfield despite the addition of Torreira.

The 22-year-old has made a big impact from the bench to help Arsenal get over the line in victories over Cardiff City and Newcastle United.

Former Irish defender Breen expressed his surprise that Emery hasn’t handed his summer signing Torreira his full debut in the Premier League.

“I can’t understand how Torreira isn’t in the team. He was bossing people,” Breen told Irish radio station Newstalk. “He was dictating Xhaka.”

Arsenal finished in sixth spot in the Premier League table last term to culminate in Arsene Wenger’s exit at The Emirates.

The Gunners haven’t won the Premier League title since 2003-04, while their last Champions League final appearance came in 2006.

The north London side have managed to win the FA Cup in three of the past five seasons.

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