Lucas Torreira could prove to be Arsenal’s own version of midfield dynamo N’Golo Kante, according to former Gunner Gilberto Silva.

Arsenal have long needed the solidity that Gilberto brought to them between 2003 and 2008, a period where the Brazilian won a Premier League title and two FA Cups, with new head coach Unai Emery having spent £26million to bring the tenacious Torreira to the Emirates Stadium from Sampdoria this summer.

They might have found their anchorman two years ago when The Gunners were among the suitors for then Leicester midfielder Kante. However opted not to formalise their interest before watching on as the 27-year-old claimed a second Premier League title in as many years, this time in a Chelsea shirt.

Granit Xhaka, more a deep-lying playmaker than anchor man, was unable to perform Kante’s role for the Gunners, whose defence was all too often torn to ribbons in Arsene Wenger’s final two seasons.

Though for the time being Torreira has been forced to settle for a substitute’s role the Uruguayan midfielder is expected to play a major role in Unai Emery’s plans and Gilberto believes he could prove to be an astute investment.

“Can he have the same impact as Kante? I hope so,” the former Arsenal midfielder told Standard Sport. “The Premier League is not easy. You have to work hard to be considered a top player and progress game to game, season to season.

“But he’s got the potential. We saw that at the World Cup, where he did a great job for Uruguay.

Gilberto added: “I watched him in the World Cup. He did a very good job. If you see the way he plays, he plays the game very simply, he makes things easy for him on the field.

“He gives protection to the back four and support to the guys up front, he tries to find the best spot to be. The protective instinct is very natural for him."

“Before [Torreira] arrived none of the other players were the kind who would sit in front of the back four. It’s a hard job, not everyone wants to do it.”

Torreira and Kante share more than just a position. Both are of the sort of diminutive stature not traditionally associated with the midfield engine room at 5ft 6in.

Gilberto does not see Torreira’s size posing any more of a problem for him than it did for Kante.

“It’s about how smart they are to play at this position, to find the best ball to give, play nice and simple.”

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Many Arsenal supporters and pundits have argued that Arsenal never found a natural defensive midfielder after Gilberto ended his five year stay at the club in 2008.

After retiring in 2013 Gilberto briefly found himself at another of his former clubs, Greek giants Panathinaikos, as the club’s technical director but left after only seven months. The 41-year-old is yet to decide where his career will take him now.

“I don’t know [what I’ll do next],” he said. “I’m enjoying having my own time now.

“Being a sporting director was a great experience but was not so easy, it’s a 24 hour job and I don’t want to work 24 hours every day. But it was good to be back in football and trying new experiences.”