Speaking on the Highbury Squad Youtube channel, Kevin Campbell has compared Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu to former Gunner, Lauren.
Lauren, now aged 44, was an integral part of Arsenal’s Invincibles side under Arsene Wenger, and much like Tomiyasu, he was one of the Gunners’ most consistent performers.
Campbell says that Tomiyasu is similar to both Lauren and Lee Dixon due to his toughness and his relentlessness.
What’s Campbell said about Tomiyasu?
The Highbury legend gave Tomiyasu a lot of praise.
“I think his toughness and his relentless nature is how Lee Dixon used to play and he’s a bit like Lauren, Lauren was tough, he could play and he was tough. Tomiyasu has a bit of different spice to him as well, because aerially, he’s dominant. We hit him sometimes at goal kicks because he’s aerially dominant. At that back-stick where we’ve had so many problems in the past, we don’t seem to have those problems anymore. I think he’s quite a lot of people’s favourite player,” Campbell said.
On his way to becoming a cult hero
Tomiyasu may have been at Arsenal for less than six months, but he’s already well on his way to cult hero status in north London.
The Japanese international has quietly been going about his business ever since arriving at the club, and it’s genuinely tough to recall a single bad game he’s had or a single mistake he’s made.
The right-back is slowly but surely cementing himself as one of the Gunners’ most important players, and as Campbell says, he’s working his way into many Arsenal fans’ hearts.
Tomiyasu could be an Arsenal legend in years to come.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
