Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu delivered an impressive display during his side's Premier League clash against Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.
The Japanese international spent the last few months on the treatment table following injuries to both of his calves before returning to the starting XI last week when the Gunners defeated West Ham United 2-1. He looked rusty against the Hammers but Mikel Arteta opted to start him again this weekend, opting to deploy him as a left-back against Jesse Marsch's men.
And Tomiyasu repaid the faith shown by his manager, registering a whopping 40 final third passes during the 2-1 victory over Leeds, more than any other player on the pitch. This feat was even more impressive when you consider that he only attempted 40 passes in the final third, meaning not a single attempt failed to reach its target.
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Speaking about Tomiyasu playing on the left, Arteta said: "It was for today, we cannot do things thinking about the next game, we believe it was the right thing to do today with what we wanted to do in that side, especially what Leeds had on the side. " The 23-year-old's role was somewhat similar to how Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo has been deployed by Pep Guardiola in recent times, operating as an inverted full-back - something that he is comfortable doing given his impressive ability with both feet.
Arteta has previously hailed Tomiyasu for being ambipedal, something that he admitted he identified before signing the talented defender for £16million back in August of last year. "Well, when we follow the player and we identify him as one of the candidates, obviously it one of the things that I came across and it gives you a lot of solutions", the Spaniard said last month.
"Not only because he can use both feet, but he can play right centre-back, left centre-back, he can play left-back so that gives you enormous variability and it’s the way they’ve been raised and coached since a really young age, that’s what he says so for him, left and right is the same."
When asked if he has spoken to the Japan star about his weak foot ability, he added: "Yes, I asked him how he’s been coached, it’s always very interesting things that we can take on board and get involved and implement in our club, because it’s such a beneficial thing, so it’s important to understand other coaches and other ways of coaching."
