Mikel Arteta now has no choice, he has to give Takehiro Tomiyasu an extended run of chances at centre-back for Arsenal after the Brentford win.
Tomiyasu was superb on the night and was rightfully named man of the match as Arsenal progressed.
The £15m Arsenal paid for the Japanese international already looks a steal.
Tomiyasu has proved himself as an incredibly versatile option across the back line.
Despite arriving as a right-back, the 24-year-old has started to play an inverted role on the left before being shifted centrally last night.
And whilst no one would argue that Tomiyasu’s versatility is to his detriment in winning a starting role right now, last night’s performance has to change things.
It’s hard to say that Tomiyasu should replace either Gabriel Magalhaes or William Saliba in the back line, but he should be considered the third choice.
Arsenal have a ton of games on the horizon this year and there will be plenty of chances for all three to play.
But Mikel Arteta’s desire to sign another right-back after Jurrien Timber’s injury does now make a lot of sense.
Arteta has to play Tomiyasu at centre-back for Arsenal after Brentford win
Perhaps Arteta has actually envisioned Tomiyasu at centre-back for some time.
Arsenal were said to be interested in an attacking right-back late in the window despite a signing not coming to fruition.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong was a name linked with the side.
And when you consider that Arsenal still had Ben White, Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares to play on the right side, a move wouldn’t seem necessary.
Unless, Arteta was already planning a switch.
It did seem that Ben White would be tried centrally until Timber picked up his untimely issue.
However, after his showing against Brentford, there’s now no justification for ‘incredible‘ Tomiyasu not to get chances for Arsenal centrally in the future.
It’s a role he stars in for Japan, and he could now be a huge success there for Arsenal.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
