Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on Takehiro Tomiyasu's ability with both feet.
Tomiyasu joined from Serie A outfit Bologna back in August of last year and enjoyed an excellent start to his career with the north Londoners, registering seven clean sheets in 16 Premier League stars. However, his debut campaign was derailed by injury and had been resigned to the treatment table for the last few months.
But the Japanese international made his return to action last Saturday, coming off the bench during the Gunners' 3-1 win against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium. Despite winning, the match against United showed the defensive frailties of Portuguese youngster Nuno Tavares, who has been filling in for the injured Kieran Tierney in recent weeks.
READ MORE: Arsenal given transfer boost as 'meeting held' regarding £84m striker and it's not Gabriel Jesus
And now, Arteta may have stumbled upon a solution to Tavares' erraticness, admitting that Tomiyasu, who is ambipedal, can play at left-back. Speaking about the 23-year-old's ability with both feet ahead of Sunday's match against West Ham United, the Spaniard said: "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.
"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."
