Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, openly admitted that he is still unsure about the best position for Takehiro Tomiyasu, a £16 million signing from Japan. Despite Tomiyasu’s recent standout performances, Arteta remains uncertain about his ideal role within the team.
When Tomiyasu was initially signed, it was with the intention of utilizing him as a right-back. However, over the course of the past two years, he has showcased his versatility by featuring in various defensive positions across the back four.
During the current season, Tomiyasu has predominantly played at left-back, although he was also deployed in the central defense in a recent Carabao Cup match against Brentford. This adaptability has left Arteta contemplating where Tomiyasu truly shines.
In a recent press conference, Arteta was asked if Tomiyasu could effectively fill any of the four defensive positions at Arsenal. Arteta’s response was positive, stating, “Yeah! He doesn’t care! You see him strike the ball right or left, or playing left-centre-back or right-centre-back, he adapts straight away. That’s a huge quality.”
However, when Arteta was pressed further about Tomiyasu’s best position, he candidly admitted, “I cannot tell you, to be honest. I don’t know. He needs a run of games, and probably we need to see partnerships to reply to that question in the right way. Today, I cannot tell you what is his best. What is more needed now? Yes, because we have less depth in that position (left-back). But what is his best position? I don’t know!”
This uncertainty reflects the intriguing dilemma that Arteta faces as he tries to maximize the Japanese defender’s potential. Takehiro Tomiyasu has proven to be an incredible asset for Arsenal, boasting the rare ability to seamlessly transition between different defensive positions.
Despite grappling with injury issues since his arrival at Arsenal, Tomiyasu’s reliability when he’s fit and available is undeniable. His performances this season have been exceptional, as he has confidently played in all four defensive positions, providing Arteta with numerous tactical options for each game.
As Arsenal prepared to face West Ham United in the Carabao Cup, the question remained: in which position would Tomiyasu be deployed? Only Arteta holds the answer to this intriguing tactical puzzle.
