Arsenal Technical Director Edu has told Sky Sports that Takehiro Tomiyasu is ready to play now.
The Gunners signed Tomiyasu from Bologna on summer transfer deadline day.
According to The Sun, Arsenal paid Bologna £20 million in transfer fee to secure the services of the 22-year-old.
The Japan international is a versatile defender who can play as a right-back or as a centre-back.
Arsenal Technical Director Edu has said that Tomiyasu is ready to explode and replace Hector Bellerin at right-back now.
Bellerin joined Real Betis on loan from Arsenal on summer transfer deadline day.
Edu told Sky Sports: “Then, at right-back, we just signed Takehiro Tomiyasu. He is someone who can come here and playsstraight away because we loaned Hector Bellerin to allow space for him to come and feature straight away. That’s the plan but of course, it’s up to Mikel if he plays or not.”
Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back?
Both Gabriel and Ben White are fit now, and it is very likely that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will use them as his two centre-backs.
Now, of course, Arteta could rotate his centre-backs as the season progresses, but when fit and available, Gabriel and White are likely to start at the back on a regular basis.
Tomiyasu’s likely position for now is right-back.
After all, Bellerin was a regular in the team, and Arteta needs a like-for-like replacement for the Spaniard.
Tomiyasu scored two goals in 31 Serie A appearances for Bologna last season, and scored one goal and gave three assists in 29 league games in 2019-20.
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