Arsenal loanee leading Europe in defender assists with 4 in 4 | OneFootball

Arsenal loanee Nuno Tavares continued his impressive start to life at Lazio, recording his fourth assist of the Serie A season during the club’s 3-2 win over Torino on Sunday.

Tavares delivered a pinpoint cross for former Arsenal player Matteo Guendouzi to open the scoring, highlighting the Portuguese full-back’s rapid rise in form.

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 29: Nuno Tavares of SS Lazio compete for the ball with Borna Sosa of Torino FC during the Serie match between Torino and Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on September 29, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Known for his exceptional pace, Tavares has already established himself as one of the most dynamic left-backs in Serie A.

His latest assist came after a powerful 68-minute Player of the Match performance, where he also clocked a sprint speed of 33 km/h, demonstrating his explosive acceleration down the left flank.

This kind of speed isn’t new for Tavares—he was ranked the ninth fastest player in the world in January 2023, hitting a peak speed of 36.21 km/h during his time at Olympique Marseille.

TURIN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 29: Nuno Tavares of Lazio battles for possession with Valentino Lazaro of Torino during the Serie A match between Torino and SS Lazio at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on September 29, 2024 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Tavares has now accumulated more assists than any other player in Serie A this season, and his four assists in four games have made him the most productive full-back across Europe’s top five leagues.

His contributions have been pivotal to Lazio’s attacking play, with head coach Marco Baroni utilising the full-back’s speed and offensive capabilities to devastating effect.

Tavares’ journey to Lazio wasn’t straightforward. After an uninspiring loan spell with Nottingham Forest last season, where his stint was cut short, Arsenal deemed him surplus to requirements.

There were questions about his consistency and discipline, but Lazio saw potential in the 24-year-old, securing a deal that could cost them just £5 million if they choose to make the transfer permanent in June 2025.

This decision is already proving to be a shrewd one, with Tavares delivering standout performances in each game he’s played so far.