Arsenal’s Forgotten Defender is Smashing it at Lazio – A Warning to Mikel Arteta
Published 06:00 26 Sep 2024 GMT+1
One player who slipped under the radar when leaving Arsenal this summer is flourishing at his new club, Lazio. Nuno Tavares, the Portuguese left-back, was allowed to depart the Emirates Stadium on loan, but he’s already making waves in Italy.
Tavares has been with Arsenal since 2021, but his time in north London has been marked by loan spells and limited appearances. He spent the 2022/23 season at Marseille, where he made 31 Ligue 1 appearances, and then joined Nottingham Forest last year, only to feature in 12 matches. Forest had the option to sign him permanently for £12 million, but ultimately decided against it.
Lazio, however, have no such doubts. They’ve acquired Tavares on a loan deal with an obligation to buy for €5 million at the end of the season, plus add-ons. Arsenal also retain a sell-on clause. And what a find Tavares has turned out to be!
Despite starting the season slowly, having suffered a thigh injury just 20 minutes into his debut, Tavares has quickly found his footing. He’s already notched three assists in Serie A, providing a attacking spark from left-back.
In his three starts, Tavares has played every minute, establishing himself as Lazio’s go-to choice at left-back. The Italian side currently sits in eighth place in Serie A, with a win, two defeats, and a draw from their opening five matches.
Mikel Arteta’s decision to let Tavares go may be questioned by Arsenal fans, who may be wondering what could have been if the defender had received more opportunities at the Emirates. For now, however, Tavares is proving his worth in Italy.
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