According to latest reports, Arsenal have their sights set on Orlando City forward Facundo Torres over a potential move in the January transfer window. Mikel Arteta is looking to bring in a backup for Bukayo Saka and the MLS star has been marked as a possible target.
The Gunners have already found a great signing in Matt Turner from MLS’s New England Revolution this year. With Arsenal starting the Premier League on a strong note this season, Arteta and Edu will be looking to get the right reinforcements to challenge Manchester City for the league title this time after falling short last season for a Champions League spot.
The Uruguayan winger has been a key player for the American club, helping them finish seventh in the MLS table with 9 goals and 8 assists in 33 games. Moreover, his contribution of 4 goals and 2 assists helped the team win the US Open Cup this year. His displays earned him a call-up to the Uruguay national team for the 2022 World Cup.
According to ESPN (via Football London), Arsenal are keen on signing Orlando City winger Facundo Torres in the winter transfer window and have discussed a possible move with Edgardo Lasalvia, Torres’ agent. The agent confirmed the Gunners are interested in bringing the Uruguayan to the Premier League.
Lasalvia told ESPN last month that he was set to meet with the North London side’s representatives to talk about a January transfer move. The 22-year-old is reportedly very keen on the move, but negotiations are still at an early stage, with no deal imminent.
🚨 Arsenal wants to buy Facundo Torres in January transfer period and will contact with Orlando City.
🟥 #AFC pic.twitter.com/nNcJ4eAxKz— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) November 1, 2022
Player Analysis
Facundo Torres was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and moved to La Paz at the age of 16. The Orlando City winger made his impact in the MLS in his first season, scoring 10 goals and 13 assists. He impressed ex-Tottenham Hotspur and New England Revolution coach Brad Friedel who told Metro Sport:
“He’s a star over here with a really good left foot. In the final third he holds a special quality in being able to unlock defences, he has very good vision and a decent strike on him.”
The winger is gifted with the ability to collect the ball and run past the opposition defence, similar to Neymar in his younger days at Santos. Arsenal would be excited to have another creative player in their team to bolster their attacking phase with precision and pace.
The Uruguayan playmaker has created numerous goals for his teammates and with Gabriel Jesus upfront, it should be a smooth partnership. Rather than looking for space inside the penalty box and cutting the ball across to a teammate, he looks for the defence-splitting pass from outside the box.
Name: Facundo Torres 🇺🇾
Age: 22
Left-Footed
Position: LW, RW & SS.According to multiple reports, Arsenal are looking to sign the Orlando City winger in January. #afc https://t.co/UFGhknjl4x
— . (@APresserV2) October 31, 2022
Facundo Torres can play on either wing, giving Arsenal backup on either side for Gabriel Martinelli and Saka. The forward also has some trickery up his sleeve in one-to-one situations, which allows him to cut inside to deliver dangerous passes into the penalty area.
The 22-year-old prefers to have the free role, but can play in different styles depending on what Arteta prefers during the match. The youngster is perfect defensively for Arteta’s pressing tactics and can pressurise the opposition during counter-attacks. When asked about his playing style in an interview with MLSsoccer, the winger said:
“I’m a forward, an attacking player that likes to play out on the wings. But one of the things I love to do the most is just attacking at goal and going to goal. Inside the box, outside the box, it’s one of those things where I just really love getting towards goal. And I’m a player that loves to be on the ball all the time because if I don’t have the ball, I’m waiting for it and I love to be on the attack and affect the game as much as possible on the ball.”
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Arteta will be satisfied with the arrival of Reiss Nelson back from injury in the last few weeks which has given them some options on the bench in the winger position. Nelson scored twice in the Nottingham Forest game, but it was his first appearance of the season and it is unclear whether he is in the Spaniard’s long-term plans.
Star player Bukayo Saka is the only option on the right and with the second half of the season starting in a couple of weeks, the Gunners will surely have some injury problems because of the fixture congestion, unless they bring in someone in the January transfer window.
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