"It makes sense" - Arsenal boss Arteta urged to use Miguel Almiron as an example and sign "special" winger

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been urged to use in-form Newcastle winger Miguel Almiron as an example and sign Facundo Torres in January.

The Gunners are flying at present. A crucial 1-0 win over Chelsea at the weekend saw Arteta’s side return to the summit of the Premier League, two points clear of last season’s champions Manchester City.

Last term Arsenal came within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League, but their season was derailed at the last due to a lack of depth and firepower.

With the Gunners now mounting a title charge, Arteta is likely to want to bolster his squad in January so as to hold Man City and their riches.

Almiron an example

Arsenal have been linked with Orlando City’s Torres since the summer, with various reports having claimed the Gunners have held talks with the player’s representatives.

While the Uruguayan international has dazzled in his debut MLS season, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists, some of the Arsenal faithful have been left underwhelmed by links to a player with no Premier League experience.

However former US international goalkeeper Kasey Keller claimed that Arsenal’s interest proves that the standard in the MLS is improving.

Keller also pointed to Almiron as an example of a player signed from the MLS that has thrived in England.

Alamy

Speaking to Betway, the 52-year-old said: “As the level of the MLS continues to improve, and the prices of buying players in other leagues around the world is getting more expensive, there is a thought process that you can get a young player out of the MLS, maybe loan them out and see if we can grab someone for a price that makes sense.

“In the MLS, there was a thing where the money was divided up almost like a pyramid scheme. That’s coming to an end because the league is getting full.

“So what was a league that resisted selling players, is now understanding that to build revenue they need to get into the world transfer market.

“Because you’re still building your stature, then maybe you sell for less than the other leagues, but teams are paying attention.

“When you have a player like Miguel Almiron at Newcastle, really starting to come good.

“You start to understand, maybe MLS is a more viable option to buy players here and there. Success builds success, if more players are at that level then more teams will look at that to see if it makes sense.”

Torres a “special” player

Another former USMNT keeper, Brad Friedel, claimed that Torres has the mettle to shine in the Premier League.

The former Tottenham and Blackburn keeper 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.

"Some players go to the Premier League and do incredibly well right away and with other players, it takes a little time as we all know.

“The physicality could be a little bit of an issue for him at first in the Premier League, but I think he could get used to it.''

Topics: Football, Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, Premier League, MLS

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.