Having been Mikel Arteta’s first choice right-back last season until injury hit, few Arsenal fans would have predicted Takehiro Tomiyasu being relegated to a bit-part role in the Premier League this season.
While the Japan international has 15 league appearances to his name, his total minutes on the pitch comes in at fewer than 500 minutes. Moreover, on the three occasions he’s completed the full 90 minutes, he’s been at left-back.
It would test the patience of most players but for the time being, Tomiyasu says he’s happy doffing Ben White for being undroppable since the start of the campaign.
“You have to accept the reality,’ Tomiyasu told Goal.com’s Charles Watts ahead of this weekend’s trip to Everton.
“Ben White has been doing very well. He is fantastic. Of course I want to play from the start. The only thing I can do is prove my value on the pitch and show what I can do.
“I just want to help the team. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing from the start or not. When I’m on the pitch I give everything.”
“Our job is to just explain on the pitch what he says. I believe him.”
Interview with Takehiro Tomiyasu, on:
– Why things have changed at Arsenal
– His belief in Arteta
– Losing his place to Ben White
– Title dreams https://t.co/DcR6f5UBeK— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) February 2, 2023
Given his versatility and the number of games between now and the end of May, Tomiyasu is sure to have a big part to play in the coming months.
A first league title in 19 years is on the cards and the defender is determined not to squander the opportunity.
“To win the Premier League is the biggest dream for every player…we have to go for it and we will go for it. We are focused.”
“Last season we understood,” he added, “But we couldn’t express it.
“But this season we understand and we are showing how Arteta wants us to play. This is the big difference.”
After the Crystal Palace game, I never imagined White making that spot his own, only because of Tomi’s form last season.
Credit to White because he has been an animal all season, near enough every game
“Last season we understood, but we couldn’t express it”…
Expressing the s#!t out of it this session.
COYG
Warrior mentality
Samurai Warrior
I so wanted to use the Samurai Jack pun.
One player covers LB, CB, RB to a high level. We are lucky to have him.
He’s a footballing hybrid.😀
Pretty sure he could also play dm if needed. Got all the attributes.
Arteta needs to find a way to keep him happy long term, would hate to lose him
attitude & talent. the likes of our Tomi are not made enough in this world. Let alone football
Premier League football in 2023 is a squad game and that requires having 22 players who can put their ego’s to one side and see the bigger picture, so big credit to Tomi.
It’s better to play 50% in a winning side than 100% in a losing one. Incidentally that’s why i’m not convinced that Tierney is likely to leave in the summer especially as we’ll have Champions League football next season.
If he doesn’t all repect to him for wanting to compete for his place. But I think Arteta and the club will want to sell him on while he still has a high value to raise some funds for bigger buys, because he’s one of the very few players who does have a fairly high value that we can afford to lose
It all depends on how much we get offered and how much a replacement would cost.
My guess would be that Tavares is a more likely left back to be sold to raise funds as i don’t think he’s a player that fits into Arteta’s vision.
Let’s see. I’d obviously much rather keep Tierney than Tavares, but I think there’s a good chance both will be sold. I’m getting the feeling that Arteta isn’t in love with Tierney for his system either, and I think he’d much rather bring a young talent who will both be more in the Zinchenko mold and more content to be his backup for at least a year or two.
But I definitely wouldn’t be mad at all if we manage to keep Tierney, if he’s your second-choice LB it doesn’t get much better than that
The thing is I don’t think either Zinchenko or Tierney have ever really been fit for more half a season anyway.
Look at this season and they’ve both played around 1000 minutes each, if anything they’re the perfect pair of competing players given their respective injury records.
But then if that’s true wouldn’t it be better to trade at least one injury-prone player for one who isn’t, if you can find another quality LB on the market?
I could see him stay for another year to taste Champions League with Arsenal, but if he wants to leave to get more game time at another club, I think we should grant him that as he’s been a faithful servant of the club. We’ll have many interesting situations to deal with in the summer: Tierney, Balogun, Tavares, Sambi, Nelson are all young-ish squad players that could be sold to raise money, or kept at the club, depending on the plans. It’s good to have this kind of problems, rather than trying to shift 30+ players on big salaries –… Read more »
I cannot see the remotest logic in selling one of the best left backs in the country. He offers a total different option to Zinchenko and frankly is a better defender. It’s great to have both of them.
I think the point is whether Tierney accepts his reduced role or not. No point keeping an unhappy player, especially if you can get good money for him which I think we could. Hopefully he is happy to perform this more supporting role, same situation as Tomiyasu, Eddie, Trossard etc.
Competition breeds improvement and results, we need deep quality all over the pitch. We’re getting there.
I love the way the etch on the pitch what Arteta tells them. 😀
“I just want to help the team. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing from the start or not. When I’m on the pitch I give everything.”
Now THAT’S the attitude. What a star!