Arteta could soon play ‘enormous’ Arsenal player in a different position, fans should be buzzing – TBR View
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have just dropped a hint about playing Takehiro Tomiyasu in a different position.
The 23-year-old defender is yet to start a Premier League game for the Gunners this season.
Tomiyasu had some fitness issues at the start of the campaign, which led to Ben White deputising at right-back.
The £50million ace has excelled there and made the position his own.
While it’s been great for Arsenal and fans to see White do so well at right-back, it’s not so good for Tomiyasu.
However, the Japan international could soon find his way back into starting contention.
Arsenal may potentially find themselves without Oleksandr Zinchenko for a couple of weeks.
Apparently, he has a calf problem expected to keep him out of the side for the next two week
Arteta, speaking pre-Brentford, would not be drawn on speculation about Zinchenko’s fitness at present.
However, he spoke about the versatility of the likes of Tomiyasu and Ben White.
“Both can play as central defenders as well,” Arteta said at his press conference.
“Tomi has been playing left centre-back for his national team Japan.
“When you look at the games, he can play as a left-back too, because you cannot tell me if he’s a left or right-footed player.
“So we have the options there, and we have to utilise them in the best possible way.
“Especially with the number of minutes we are going to have in the next few weeks, and it’s great that players are comfortable doing more than one position.”
Arsenal fans should be excited about this, as it could see a fan favourite return to the starting XI.
Tomiyasu was one of the Gunners’ standout players last season and it’s been sad to see him on the fringes.
Also, if the “enormous” talent plays at left-back and does well there, it unlocks a new option for Arteta in a busy, crucial season
