A diamond emerged from the Wembley rough on Wednesday night as young Brazil midfielder Arthur excelled in Barcelona’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Tottenham.

The summer signing from Gremio shone upon his first Champions League start, helping to set the platform from which forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez ripped the hosts to shreds.

Here, we review the 22-year-old’s breakout European display:

STATISTICS 

Goals – 0

Shots – 0

Touches – 79

Passes – 70

Pass accuracy (%) – 91.4

Fouled – 3

Key passes – 0

Dispossessed – 2

Tackles – 3

30-SECOND REPORT

Arthur was the beneficiary as – stung by three-successive winless matches – Barca head coach Ernesto Valverde chose to cement his central midfield in a 4-3-3 formation.

Coutinho’s shot into an open goal and Rakitic’s stupendous volley earned them a deserved 2-0 half-time lead.

Harry Kane’s expert low finish gained hope for the hosts, but that was soon stubbed out by Messi’s close-range finish. Nerves caused by Erik Lamela’s deflected strike were then soothed by Messi’s calm second.

GOT RIGHT

Fitting in nicely – Rakitic and Busquets boast more than 700 Barca appearances between them. For midfield colleague Arthur, this run-out was just a sixth in the club’s famous colours.

You would never have guessed the scale of the disparity in experience on show. In particular, the movements between Arthur and Rakitic were perfectly synchronised.

This exhibited the tactical nous and intrinsic understanding that attracted Barca to the Brazilian.

GOT WRONG

Getting up to speed – The pace and physicality of the game in South America cannot compare to the Champions League.

Centre-back Yerry Mina’s toils – shipped out already after arriving from Palmeiras last January – is evidence of this steep step-up.

Arthur’s acclimitisation has gone far better this term. But he was twice left chasing shadows as Spurs countered at rapier speed for their first.

it was a memorable display for Arthur.

KEY MOMENTS

56th min CHANCE CREATED: There seemed little on when Arthur picked the ball up 30 yards from goal, faced by a static and entrenched Spurs defence. The Brazilian then switched up a gear, brushed off a challenge from Argentina playmaker Lamela and catalysed a move that was eventually finished off by Lionel Messi.

An ability to quicken the pace and crack open tight spots is the hallmark of a classic Barca midfielder.

86th min SUBSTITUTED: Arthur’s work is done and he makes way for Arturo Vidal with the match won.

VERDICT

It says everything about the promise and technical excellence of Arthur that he was favoured over experienced Chile battler Vidal in this Group B-battle.

Valverde’s faith was rewarded on a pitch ruined by last month’s prize boxing fight between Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin.

That the controlled Arthur – he boasted pass accuracy of 91.4 per cent – can only get better should make Barca and Brazil fans salivate.

RATING: 7/10

All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com.