Kevin Campbell has backed to turn his career around after a difficult first campaign in English football.
Tavares, 22, has performed poorly when covering for Kieran Tierney at left-back this season and was hauled off at half-time at after being at fault for the Eagles’ first two goals in a 3-0 defeat in April.
The Gunners have been linked with signing a new left-back this summer to replace the Portuguese with Bologna’s Aaron Hickey touted as a new arrival at the Emirates.
However, Campbell, the former Arsenal forward, believes Tavares will be better next season, having become accustomed to the demands of English football.
Speaking to, he said: ‘The crazy thing is, early on in the season some fans were saying should start ahead of (Kieran) Tierney. This is about form.
‘Tavares is a young player who is learning his trade. He will only get better. He will be better next season for the experiences he has had.
‘It has been a rollercoaster for him this year. He has had good times, terrible times and indifferent times.
‘The fact that Mikel Arteta has had him in the team means that he has played his part. Yes, he has had mad 15 minutes in certain games but the fact of the matter is he has not been dragged off when he has started recently.
‘Nuno will be better next season. This experience can only be a good thing.’
After arriving from Benfica last summer, Tavares began the season well and was Arsenal’s first-choice left-back while Tierney was out injured.
However, the Scot’s return saw him lose his place and his form as he was hooked after just 33 minutes at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in January after a disappointing display.
Following his Crystal Palace nightmare, the former Benfica man made a resurgence, featuring in recent victories over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham.
But Mikel Arteta still seems unconvinced, having pulled Tavares out of the team against Leeds United on Sunday for Cedric Soares.
Speaking earlier this month, the Arsenal manager called on Gunners fans to support the young left-back.
He said: ‘We have to help him. He needs to go through these experiences to understand, OK what trigged that moment, when you go from here to there – and give him support.
‘We know, I’ve said this many times, the bill that you have to pay with these players is that they have never experienced this.’
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