Arsenal's forgotten star who hasn't played for the club since 2022 causes a stir when he was loaned out to a new club
Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares has enjoyed an excellent start to life at his new club Lazio.
The left back joined in The gunners from Benfica in 2021, but failed to establish himself as a key starter in his first season.
Tavares has since spent time on loan at Marseille and Nottingham Forest, with Serie A side Lazio now his third club away from Arsenal.
It is a move that reportedly includes an obligation to buy if sporting conditions are met this season.
The defender last played for Arsenal in May 2022 but remains in their squad.
And judging by Tavares' current form at Lazio, he could be on course for a permanent move to Italy at the end of the campaign.
The defender has assisted three goals in as many appearances, which is already more than his total of two for Arsenal in all competitions.
Tavares' assist figures for Lazio also came in 25 fewer games and against top-tier opposition including AC Milan and Fiorentina.
After the 24-year-old's debut against Milan, Lazio boss Marco Baroni predicted a bright future for the summer signing.
“Tavares is a boy with great potential, it's no coincidence that he was an Arsenal player,” he told Radio Serie A via Lazio, that's us.
“Beyond that, he's a kid that we now have to create a path for. He did very well against Milan, we were waiting for him because he came on and had a small problem and stopped.
“He played his last game in February last year, so… he is a boy with great potential, I am convinced that we will create the right structure and framework for him to be able to give his best and emerge, because he has incredible potential.”
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Tavares was a substitute and did not play in Lazio's 3-0 Europa League win over Dynamo kyiv on Wednesday but could return against Torino on Sunday.
The Rome-based side currently sit eighth in the Serie A table with two wins and one point ahead of city rivals Roma after five games.
If the obligation to buy requirements are not met, Tavares would face an uncertain future at Arsenal as his contract expires next summer.
He has made 28 appearances for the Gunners, starting 17 of them in the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
Arsenal currently have Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney as the two natural left-backs in their squad this season.
However, Mikel Arteta has opted to use Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber there, both better known as centre-backs.
Academy talent Myles Lewis-Skelly started at left-back for Arsenal on Wednesday night in their 5-1 victory over Bolton in the Carabao Cup.
