Takehiro Tomiyasu’s Arsenal story is one of the more bittersweet of the Mikel Arteta era.
Signed on deadline day in 2021 from Bologna for around £16million, he joined as a late-window solution to Arsenal’s right-back problems and immediately won everyone over.
His physicality and technical quality was a breath of fresh air at the time, and he was able to operate anywhere across the backline.
Fans will always remember him pocketing Mohamed Salah at left-back in a 3-2 win over Liverpool in 2022-23.
Unfortunately, Tomiyasu’s body broke down on him, and across four full seasons at the Emirates, he managed just 84 appearances in all competitions.
Agree or disagree: Takehiro Tomiyasu would’ve been one of the best defenders in the world if he had no injuries
As Arteta got ever closer to a Premier League title, he needed reliability. Ben White was moved to right-back. Then Jurrien Timber arrived. And Tomiyasu’s path was blocked on multiple fronts.
Constant injuries prevented him from ever stamping his place back in the team, and Arsenal mutually terminated his contract last summer with 12 months still to run.
He joined Ajax for half a season where he made seven appearances, which was enough to earn a place in Japan’s World Cup squad.
He made three appearances at the tournament showing he still has something left.
Now, according to Alfredo Pedulla, he has been offered to Como. And, of course, the manager waiting for him there is a very familiar face.
Cesc Fabregas could revitalise Takehiro Tomiyasu’s career
Cesc Fabregas has a complicated relationship with Arsenal fans. That Chelsea move will never fully be forgiven.
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But he is undoubtedly a very exciting coach. He has remarkably guided Como from Serie B to Champions League football in the space of three seasons.
His possession-heavy, positional, chess-like style is heavily influenced by Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola, the two managers who shaped him most as a player.
That style suits Tomiyasu perfectly. Plus Serie A is far less physically intense than the end-to-end demands of the Premier League. His body should be able to handle that better.
Besides, Tomiyasu already understands the league and its tempo and culture, having spent a couple of seasons at Bologna before Arsenal.
Sometimes the right manager finds you at the right time. Hopefully this could be that moment for Tomiyasu.
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