Mikel Arteta ‘flop’ is now flying in Italy, he’s got more goal involvements than Rafael Leao
When it comes to players who Arsenal might regret letting go of this summer, perhaps Emile Smith Rowe is the only name that comes to mind.
Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale also left the Emirates Stadium, but they were players who had reached the end of the road at Arsenal.
Smith Rowe was slightly different, there was still hope among fans in N5 that the ‘Croydon De Bruyne’ could get back to his first team best, someone who was still capable of winning games.
That being said, Smith Rowe is now thriving at Fulham, with the best wishes of Arsenal fans everywhere.
And talking of players excelling since leaving Arsenal, Nuno Tavares is enjoying a storming time in the Serie A with Lazio.
Tavares left Arsenal on loan with an obligation to buy clause if certain conditions are met during his time in Italy.
Nuno Tavares has been Lazio’s highest-rated player in Italy this season
It would be silly to suggest that Arsenal should regret letting Tavares go, he was clearly not quite up to the task in north London, but his success in Italy has still been remarkable.
The 24-year-old now has five assists for Lazio this season and has been one of the best players in Italy after seven games have been played.
In fact, Tavares (five) even has more goal involvements than AC Milan star Rafael Leao (four) this season, who has scored once and provided three assists.
Via Sofascore, Tavares average rating in Italy so far this season stands at 7.34.
For context, the Portugal under-21 international scored a 6.73 rating during a disappointing loan at Nottingham Forest last season, a remarkable improvement.
Credit has to go to Edu Gaspar for finding a better solution for Tavares this season, even if he may now wish he could re-negotiate the fee involved to sell the full-back permanently.
Tavares outperforming old Arsenal teammate Matteo Guendouzi in the Serie A
Shortly after his departure, Tavares said Matteo Guendouzi convinced him to leave Arsenal.
The former Arsenal duo are now playing together at Lazio and Tavares is even outperforming the Frenchman despite only just arriving.
Guendouzi is a key player for the historic Italian side, but his respectable 7.13 average rating (Sofascore) can’t match his new teammate.
An excellent success story for Arsenal fans to follow, but not one that necessarily means any mistake was made.
Tavares was finished at Arsenal and debatably in the Premier League as a whole, a defender who has now found a league that perfectly suits his attacking flair.
