Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu has played across the backline for the Gunners so far, but Mikel Arteta could soon use him in yet another position.
The Japan international joined us from Bologna on summer transfer deadline day last year. He has been fantastic for us, so much so that Arteta has preferred him to Kieran Tierney at left-back this season.
Takehiro Tomiyasu could soon play in yet another new position for Arsenal
Tomiyasu is naturally a right-back and he’s fantastic there. He can also play on the opposite side too and he has been brilliant there as well – just ask Mo Salah, who couldn’t do anything against him.
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At times in the latter stages of the game, Arteta has asked Tomiyasu to fill in at centre-half as well. He plays in the heart of the defence for his national team, and it is no surprise at all that he can play there.
By this point, you know Tomiyasu is hugely versatile. He can play in all four positions at the back, but there’s another role he’s more than capable of playing in – defensive midfield.
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Tomiyasu has played as a number six on 16 occasions in his career – 14 of which came for Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka, while the two others came in wins against Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the AFC Asian Cup back in 2019.
Soon, he could be given that opportunity at Arsenal.
Tomiyasu could play in Arsenal’s midfield soon
Arsenal smashed five past Nottingham Forest on Sunday and all the goalscorers earned a ton of plaudits. One player who caught our eye was Tomiyasu.
Like every full-back in our side, the Japan international tucked inside into a midfield role multiple times. This isn’t the first time he has done that, but on numerous occasions, he almost played in Thomas Partey’s position, which allowed the Ghanaian to push further forward.
We must say, Tomiyasu looked extremely comfortable in the middle of the park. He didn’t look out of place on a single occasion, and he definitely would’ve given Arteta a few ideas for the coming weeks and months.
With Mohamed Elneny still injured and the likes of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in need of a break, don’t be surprised at all to see Tomiyasu given a chance in the middle of the park at some point in the near future.
We have a feeling he’ll be brilliant there as well.
