Lucas Torreira could become Arsenal's version of Chelsea star midfielder N'Golo Kante, according to Gunners legend Gilberto Silva.

The tenacious Uruguayan was signed from Sampdoria in the summer after a strong World Cup performance. He has been benched in favour of Granit Xhaka in the deep lying midfield role by Unai Emery so far this season.

But Xhaka has proven time and time again that he lacks the sufficient defensive skills to screen the back-four, and Silva believes Torreira can fill the role in the same ferocious way as Kante.

"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."

Gilberto 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."