Arsenal vs Wolves: 4 interesting selection decisions for Arteta

4. Takehiro Tomiyasu or Cedric Soares at Right-Back?

When Arteta revealed prior to the Molineux clash that Takehiro Tomiyasu had been ‘training hard’ and was in contention, there was a collective sigh of relief. Alas, he didn’t even make the squad, and panic set in.

But there turned out to be no need to. Cedric had a fine game in his absence, playing a crucial role in the Gunners keeping a clean sheet and securing the three points.

His one solid performance of the season came at the right time. But then there was another one, this time against Brentford, when Tomiyasu wasn’t risked as he stayed on the bench. Where did this come from? Cedric with two excellent outings consecutively? It’s unheard of.

Well now the Japan international is definitely back fit and firing having had plenty of recovery time, so a decision is there to be made.

Given how Tomiyasu has been one of the signings of the season across the whole Premier League this season, coupled with his outstanding aerial ability which will come in handy against Wolves, there is surely no debate over whether he comes back into the side, regardless of Cedric’s mini resurgence.

Right?

Well, we say this, but one Nuno Tavares kept everyone’s pick for captain, Kieran Tierney, out of the team for a number of weeks. Arteta rewarded form then, might he do so again?

There is form and then there is recency bias. Tomiyasu has to play.