Takehiro Tomiyasu is everything Arsenal needed – and more

Good day to everyone around the world. Especially you, Takehiro Tomiyasu. Hopefully you slept well, because nobody deserves it more. You’re an Arsenal hero already.

When the team sheets were announced ahead of the Leeds game, initial assumptions were that Cedric Soares would line up on the left of the back four given he’s featured there previously for Arsenal.

But when Nuno Tavares was struggling dearly around the Crystal Palace game and the alternatives were being drawn up for who could slot into left-back, Tomiyasu stood out as the most suitable option. Why? Because he can do everything, with either foot. Really, what can’t 23-year-old do?

What Arsenal secured for a measly £16m is nothing short of a masterclass in scouting. Just think, though, that there is an alternative universe where Calum Chambers plays a blinding pair of games away at Brentford and Manchester City and Arsenal don’t dip into the market for Tomiyasu. Be grateful for every day, folks.

Takehiro Tomiyasu is everything Arsenal needed and more with another fine performance in the 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds

Coming into the fold at West Ham for his first start in over 100 days due to injury, it looked like he’d never been gone. Fast forward a week to the 2-1 win over Leeds where he played left-back and you would assumed he had played there all his life. Primarily there to deal with the threat of Raphinha, he barely broke a sweat locking that side down.

What Arsenal have secured is a facilitator, one they always needed. In defence he gives the side the variance in build-up they crave, solidity down the sides, and a platform for others to shine with his security at the back.

Yet they got much more than that. Tomiyasu is a superb athlete, a monster in the air, can play anywhere across back three or four, is comfortable inside and outside, is domineering one-on-one, comfortable in possession with a solid technical level, and can do all of the above on either foot without looking even remotely uncomfortable.

All for £16m.

Even tactically there were different demands placed on Tomiyasu throughout the game, with the second half seeing him play inverted with Martinelli holding the width, often acting as the playmaker in those areas, making runs in between centre-back and full-back. Clocking up the most passes into the final third of anyone else on the pitch, what’s even more remarkable is that he didn’t misplace a single one of the 40 he attempted.

That is not just reliability, that is being able to trust a player making just his second Premier League start since January who is slotting in on the opposite side.

Tomiyasu is an absolute gem of a signing.