How has Nuno Tavares adapted to life in north London?

 

Tavares

How has Nuno Tavares adapted to life in north London? 


By Tom Masters

 

Arsenal spent significant amounts of money last summer, with the likes of Ben White, Aaron Ramsdale and Albert Sambi Lokonga brought in for large transfer fees. 

 

One other player that joined the Mikel Arteta regime was a certain Nuno Tavares, who was thought to be Kieran Tierney’s likely deputy. 

 

However, with Tierney suffering from injuries this season, the young Portuguese left-back has had more game-time than perhaps some would have thought. 

 

He has played 90 minutes in Arsenal’s previous six matches, while he also featured in the early season games against Brentford, Chelsea and Burnley.

 

In those six starts, Tavares has been a part of an Arsenal side who kept two clean sheets while his assist for Bukayo Saka’s goal against Newcastle was invaluable. 

 

Thus, aside from a tough evening at Anfield where the Gunners were defeated 4-0 by a free-scoring Liverpool side, Tavares has settled in well at the Emirates. 

 

The fact he has been able to adapt into a role that Tierney has made his own in recent years with relative ease shows his potential and shows why Arsenal fans were so excited to see him join the club. 

 

In his two seasons in the Primeira Liga for Benfica, Tavares played 39 times. In the first few months of this season, he has already played 13 times - showing that Arteta trusts him in what has been a largely solid defence.


Tavares

Perhaps the most impressive thing though is that Tavares has managed to keep Tierney out of the team when he has returned from injury, showing just how well he has played.

This is without a doubt a good thing for the Gunners, who will now have two quality left-backs vying for the spot and given Tierney's injury woes, adept cover is no bad thing. 

 

Arsenal are a side who are certainly developing under Arteta and while the Champions League places may be beyond them, there is reason to be very positive moving forward for the Gunners. 

 

The signings such as Tavares, White and Ramsdale all highlight the new focus on youth, as well as the likes of home-grown talents Saka and Emile Smith Rowe. 

 

That combination of the signing of youth and Arteta’s trust in them have ensured that Tavares has joined an Arsenal team who are on the up. 

 

Verdict: 

 

Tavares has certainly been a useful addition to the squad so far and he will certainly develop further. 

 

There can be no doubt whatsoever that Tavares has been a successful signing and if he can develop at the same trajectory that the likes of Saka and Smith Rowe have, Arsenal are onto a quality player. 

 


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