Not many Arsenal fans would’ve been overly familiar with Lucas Torreira before he signed with the London club over the summer.

The Uruguayan - one of five new faces to arrive at the Emirates since the end of last season - cost the Gunners £26 million to bring in from Sampdoria.

Torreira made 38 appearances in all competitions for the Serie A outfit last term to back up a remarkably consistent debut campaign the season prior.

With the days of boasting Patrick Vieira in midfield long gone, the Gunners faithful have since been desperate to secure the services of a similarly dominant player.

The likes of Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny were recruited in previous transfer windows in an effort to fill that particular void, though neither has truly fit the bill.

It’s little wonder Arsenal fans are growing tired of watching relatively expensive signings fail to make the grade.

However, a club legend - and one who knows a thing or two about screening the defence, at that - believes Unai Emery has got his hands on a potentially crucial player for years to come.

Gilberto Silva is very excited by what he’s seen of Torreira - so much so he predicts the 22-year-old can become what N’Golo Kante is to Chelsea.

“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,” he 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.”

Unlike the aforementioned Vieira, Torreira is shorter in stature and far less physically imposing than the French general.

But as Claude Makelele and Kante have proven, football intelligence can compensate for deficiencies in other areas.

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

When such high praise comes from a former Brazil international and once formidable Premier League opponent, Arsenal fans could be forgiven for thinking Torreira might just be the real deal.