Arsenal manager Unai Emery has explained why Denis Suarez hasn’t featured regularly since his arrival on loan in January.
The Spaniard has made just four substitute appearances so far for the Gunners and when asked whether he could start against Bournemouth this evening, Emery said:
“I think Denis Suarez is improving first with the adaptation every day and then his quality can give us a lot.”
“I think it’s not okay today [for him] to play 90 minutes because he needs rhythm, but one possibility is to start tomorrow knowing that. Or, stay on the bench and after he can help us. And it’s the same with other players.”
The fact that Suarez isn’t ready to play a full 90 minutes has left some supporters on Twitter questioning why the club signed him in the first place:
He needs game time to show his potential
— Iamshady (@Iamshady6) 26 February 2019
Season is almost coming to an end for him to g o back to Spain, why did you bring him on loan ?
— Sir Isaac Cheruiyot (@Sir_Isaac6) 26 February 2019
We didn’t really need him after all..
— June.21st.?? (@awanto_er) 26 February 2019
What was the point in signing him…
— MR17 (@MR_1799) 26 February 2019
Should have kept Ramsey rather then paying 20m in summer for him
— Persie (@persie1000) 27 February 2019
Have yet to see any impact from him. Might be because he hasn’t adapted yet? I prefer Ramsey way better than him.
— Riezman Iskandar (@Riez_11) 26 February 2019
We dont need him he is too light weight for EPL
— Tendai Kats (@TendaiKats) 26 February 2019
Others believe Emery is easing him into life in the Premier League and we could see the best of him next season when he could be signed on a permanent basis:
Emery wants his players to settle in when they join. Therefore he is played less. The same happened when Torreira was bought. It’s almost certain that Denis will be bought in the summer when the loan ends.
— Casper (@Welcome0144) 26 February 2019
His time will come. Squad depth will be tested over the next few weeks. We will need him to be ready.
— Gaurav (@GauravFT09_) 26 February 2019
With the fixtures so squeezed definately he wanna start soon
— Marcskilonzo (@MarcsIsKilonzo) 27 February 2019
Arsenal have eleven games to go in the Premier League this season, as well as more matches in the Europa League. Having Suarez in the back pocket could, therefore, prove to be useful.
Still, many fans were expecting a more immediate impact from the 25-year-old, but it looks as though patience will be required with this one.