After his latest showing for Japan, there’s no doubt that Takehiro Tomiyasu should be regularly starting games for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Tomiyasu played at centre-back for Japan in their historic 4-1 win away to Germany yesterday.
And although Tomiyasu has been brilliant backup for Arteta at Arsenal in multiple positions, he now deserves to be a starter.
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However, his starting role may not necessarily be at centre-back or his most natural role on the right.
Tomiyasu’s latest cameo against Manchester United before the break proved he can perform excellently in an inverted role at left-back.
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It’s a position that Oleksander Zinchenko made his own for Arsenal last season until the arrival of Jurrien Timber thus.
Had Timber not got injured, this may not even be a discussion, but there’s now a real opportunity for Arsenal’s Japanese defender.
Tomiyasu is starting to prove that he does have the playmaking ability to perform an inverted role, and his defending has never been in doubt.
So if Zinchenko came unstuck in some key Arsenal games towards the end of last season, Mikel Arteta now has a solution in Tomiyasu.
It’s time for Arteta to give Tomiyasu a starting role at Arsenal
Whilst Tomiyasu deserves to be a starter, it doesn’t necessarily mean Zinchenko deserves to be dropped.
The Ukrainian showed all of his ability against England yesterday whilst playing in a midfield role.
And perhaps Zinchenko could even be a thought for the position vacated by Granit Xhaka this season.
Kai Havertz hasn’t exactly locked down the spot, and may even lose it to Fabio Vieira in the coming weeks.
But if Arteta wants a defensively resolute line up, then Tomiyasu behind Zinchenko on Arsenal’s left side could be quite tempting.
£16m Tomiyasu is now the most underrated player at Arsenal, and it’s time he had a run of starts in the team again.