Takehiro Tomiyasu doesn’t mind playing as a striker

Ever since his arrival at the Emirates Stadium, Takehiro Tomiyasu has been hailed for his grit, versatility and defensive skills. But the player says that he has more to offer Arsenal.

“For me, it doesn’t matter [where I play] because the most important thing is to play in the game. So if the coach told me to play striker, I would play striker!” the Japanese star told Evening Standard in a recent interview.

One of the reasons that Mikel Arteta went for Tomiyasu instead of other defenders available on the market is because his ability to play at different positions makes him an asset.

“I think I can play with both feet, I can play every position as a defender,” the 22-year-old added. Tomiyasu was signed for £20 million from Bologna. So far, he has done a good job replacing Hector Bellerin, who the Gunners have loaned to Real Betis.

In the Norwich game, he helped the club get their first win of the new season, keeping their first clean sheet on debut. He has been dubbed as a long-term solution to Arteta’s defensive woes that have barred the club from achieving success lately.