Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard don’t think fans would guess who Takehiro Tomiyasu’s best friend is at Arsenal.
Tomiyasu joined Arsenal in 2021 from Bologna to bolster the options in defence and the Japan international hasn’t looked back since.
Mikel Arteta appreciates the versatility that the 25-year-old offers to his squad, being a player capable of playing on either side as a fullback and in central defence.
While Tomiyasu’s impact on the pitch can be very loud when at his best and clear of injury, the £20m signing comes across as a more reserved player behind the scenes.
Declan Rice reacts as Takehiro Tomiyasu’s best friend at Arsenal is revealed
The Arsenal squad took some time away from their preparation for the season ahead by producing some content for the club’s media team.
In one segment on Instagram, Trossard, Tomiaysu and Rice sat down to discuss their perfect pre-season stays, where the trio named the teammate they’d most like to explore with.
Trossard and Rice seemed unsurprised as they reacted to Tomiyasu naming William Saliba as his best friend in the squad.
In response to the question about who they’d most like to explore with, the Japan international said, “Saliba”, to which Trossard and Rice immediately giggled.
“Him and Saliba are like [stuck together] you wouldn’t put them together,” Rice said, while Tomiyasu described why he’s so fond of the centre-back.
“He’s the funniest guy and he’s also calm and quiet,” the 25-year-old explained, shedding light on the friendship he’s built with his defensive partner.
Tomiyasu will hope to make an impact at Arsenal in 2024/25
After an injury-tainted campaign last season, Tomiyasu’s plans for the start of the upcoming action haven’t gone as hoped.
Arteta confirmed that Tomiyasu will be out for ‘weeks’, which will see him miss the start of the season.
While the Japanese star isn’t considered to be a starter in Arteta’s current favoured XI, game time is always promised due to the defender’s versatility.
The depth that Tomiyasu can provide the manager makes him an indispensable figure in the squad, being able to be deployed effectively in a variety of positions across the back line.
There’s a hope that things will get better on the injury front for the 25-year-old, who is a valued member of the squad both on and off the pitch at Arsenal.
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