What Mikel Arteta did almost three years ago may have led to him losing the best creator in Europe.
Lazio fullback Nuno Tavares is the top assister in Europe’s top five leagues. The Portuguese players beats the likes of Bukayo Saka, Mohamed Salah and Vinicius Junior.
Tavares joined Arsenal in 2021 for around £8m from Benfica. He has since been on loan to Marseille, Nottingham Forest and he currently resides in Lazio. There is an obligation for the Italian side to buy the fullback afterwards. Based on his current form, there would be a lot of clubs who would be happy to have him.
In nine league games he has eight assists. This beats out Saka who is on seven, with the next Arsenal player being Gabriel Martinelli with two. So, why would a player who is doing so well be out on loan from a top Premier League side?
It can go back to an FA Cup third round game against Forest. Arteta had rotated most of his starting XI for the game with Tavares taking over from Kieran Tierney. The Portuguese fullback had miss-controlled some balls and almost put his team behind with a poor back-pass. This was only 30 minutes in, so he had time to recover.
(Image: ITV)
Arteta did not see it this way. When the half-an-hour mark had passed, he substituted Tierney on for Tavares. Clearly frustrated, he walked off the field, angrily throwing his gloves to the floor as he approached the bench. There clearly wasn’t a solid relationship.
Although Arteta has given away a player who has developed into a star, Arsenal’s defence has grown itself. Last season, Arsenal conceded the least amount of goals in the league. Defenders like Ben White, Gabirel and William Saliba have provided a rock for their manager.
Many Gunners fans felt that Taveres’ defensive discipline wouldn’t align with how Arteta’s system is set up anyway. Although the fullbacks ability to get forward and put the ball in dangerous areas isn’t under question, the capacity to get back and defend was more open to doubt.
The Spaniard’s ideology may have been too structural for a player like Tavares who loves to break free. There is always a chance that he could return to London, however, his performance in Italy will be attracting more eyes than ever before.
