Japanese defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has now identified the most underrated player in the current Arsenal squad.
Takehiro Tomiyasu has now given his verdict on his Arsenal teammates.
The 25-year-old is now an established figure at the Emirates Stadium, having been on the books with the North London club since the summer of 2021.
Arsenal handed Tomiyasu a new contract recently, acknowledging his important role within the side. Mikel Arteta clearly has great faith in the player’s abilities, and values his versatility, as he is able to slot in in any position across the back line.
However, the former Bologna man has had recurrent injury issues throughout his time at the club. Many Arsenal fans were wary about the prospect of handing Tomiyasu a new deal due to this.
In any case, he is here to stay at Arsenal and will be aiming to maintain a clean bill of health over the course of the upcoming season. If he can do that, then he stands an excellent chance of establishing himself as the Gunners’ first-choice left-back.
In the meantime, Tomiyasu has now named one of his fellow defenders as the most under-appreciated player at the club.
Takehiro Tomiyasu believes Arsenal star Gabriel Magalhaes deserves greater praise
In a video clip posted on X by Footy Culture, Tomiyasu was asked to name the “most underrated” current Arsenal player. Without hesitation, he responded with the name Gabriel Magalhaes.
The Brazilian ace is certainly highly thought of within the club. William Saliba has called Gabriel the best centre-back in the Premier League. However, he often receives less praise from the media than is lavished upon the Frenchman himself.
How Gabriel has improved at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta
Gabriel has certainly grown as a player under the guidance of Arteta. When he first arrived at Arsenal from French club Lille in the summer of 2020, whilst his potential was obvious, he was somewhat error-prone and could make rash decisions.
Last season, though, the 26-year-old scarcely put a foot wrong, and has established himself as an ideal partner for Saliba in the heart of the Arsenal defence. His aggression, physicality, and tenacity complement the 23-year-old’s pace, composure, and technical ability.
Gabriel will feature for Brazil at the Copa America this summer, along with fellow Arsenal star Gabriel Martinelli. The defender will be keen to showcase his quality on the international stage during that tournament.