Journalist Charles Watts believes that Mikel Arteta will now stick with one Arsenal player in key position for the rest of the season.
The regular Arsenal starting XI has undergone several evolutions over the course of the campaign.
At the start of the season, Mikel Arteta trialled certain tactical ideas and had faith in certain players which weren’t to last long.
For instance, for the first two Premier League games of the campaign, Thomas Partey was named at right-back. Arteta also had plans to use Kai Havertz in midfield, but the German has now established himself as a striker. Eddie Nketiah has fallen out of favour having been heavily involved before the turn of the year, and of course there was also the controversial decision to install goalkeeper David Raya as the No. 1 ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.
Left-back has been a problem position throughout the season.
Takehiro Tomiyasu offers solution to Arsenal left-back issue
The long-term injury suffered by Jurrien Timber removed one potential solution. Oleksandr Zinchenko is also considered to be something of a defensive liability, and has endured fitness issues of his own.
Jakub Kiwior impressed as a makeshift full-back for a time, but looked vulnerable against elite opposition when the Gunners came up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The Poland international also lacks attacking impetus.
In the last few matches, Takehiro Tomiyasu has come back into the starting XI. The £20 million former Bologna man has endured another injury-hit campaign, but now looks to be back to full fitness at last.
There can be no denying his quality. Tomiyasu has been described as a “warrior” in the past, and is a solid, combative defender. The 25-year-old is also comfortable on the ball and can contribute to the Gunners’ build-up play.
Mikel Arteta urged to stick with Takehiro Tomiyasu
Charles Watts now believes that Arteta will keep faith in Tomiyasu. Speaking on his Inside Arsenal YouTube channel, the reporter said “I just think he’ll stick with Tomiyasu, to be honest. I don’t think we’ll see too many changes for Arsenal between now and the end of the season, barring any injuries.”
Of course, the question as to whether the full-back can stay fit is a big one. Certainly, if he isn’t able to address his recurrent fitness concerns then his long-term future at the Emirates Stadium has to be called into question.
On the condition that he can keep going for the last three games of this campaign, though, then Tomiyasu has to keep his place in the team. These are must-win games for Arsenal, with their Premier League title dream on the line, and Arteta’s side look better with him at left-back than they do with either Zinchenko or Kiwior in that part of the pitch.
