Arise, King Arthur: Midfielder a perfect fit for Barcelona – and will be a key man for Brazil for years to come

For 78 minutes, he set the tempo of the game, probing and plotting from the left side of the central midfield three. Pass, pass, pass; see ya! He yanked the opposition around the pitch like a cat playing with a ball of wool.

Already, Arthur looks like a key cog in the Barcelona side, adding guile, craft and balance. But the Camp Nou love-in is about more than just ability.

It's a question of identity, too; Arthur is no La Masia graduate, but there's something about his game – the low centre of gravity, the 360-degree vision, the unwavering bravery on the ball – that just fits with the Barcelona way.

Read my piece on Arthur's start to life in Europe – and his importance to Brazil – on the Unibet blog.