Arsenal were outstanding as they booked their place in the Champions League knockout rounds with a 6-0 victory over RC Lens.
Mikel Arteta will have been buzzing with what he saw from his side, as the entire front five got on the scoresheet, and there were many excellent performers.
Bukayo Saka was particularly good, as he set a goal up for Gabriel Jesus before adding another himself to make it 3-0 within half an hour, and the game meant he broke a number of Arsenal records in the competition.
However, there was a player who outperformed Saka, and everyone else, in Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Tomiyasu was Arsenal’s best player against Lens
The right-back started ahead of Ben White again, as the Englishman had only recently returned from injury, but he was utterly sensational throughout his performance.
Although Tomiyasu was withdrawn at half-time for White, he delivered a spectacular display in that time which helped win the match before the interval.
It was the 25-year-old’s long ball which saw Gabriel Jesus win a header before Kai Havertz prodded home the opener, and this was the start of an excellent attacking display from the defender.
Tomiyasu then assisted the fourth goal with an outrageous first-time long pass which found Gabriel Martinelli on the other side of the pitch, who cut inside and finished well.
Many could have forgiven Tomiyasu for taking the foot off the gas at this point, but instead he drove forward with incredible speed, overlapping Saka before delivering another floated ball into the box, which Martin Odegaard volleyed in to make it five on the stroke of half time.
Tomiyasu’s remarkable display
The defender has been in fantastic form this season, and statistically, he was incredible vs Lens.
He delivered three key passes in just 45 minutes, averaging one every 15 minutes, and two of these led to assists.
Although he is often regarded as a more defence-minded full-back, his crossing was also sublime, as he recorded a 100% cross accuracy with his deliveries.
Lens could not get past him in attack and could not handle him at the back. Tomiyasu was described as a “real menace” by the Evening Standard after the game, and he has received deserved praise for his performance.
The £55k-a-week star looks set to sign a bumper new deal, and ward off interest from Bayern Munich. He has become a popular figure this season, and he will hope to keep his place in the starting XI.
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