Kieran Tierney feels Takehiro Tomiyasu has been an ‘excellent’ teammate since his transfer to Arsenal. But he is trying to use their relationship to turn the right-back into a Celtic fan.
The Gunners signed Tomiyasu from Serie A side Bologna in August 2021 for £15.5m to take over from Hector Bellerin. But he is now behind Ben White in Mikel Arteta’s pecking order. The 24-year-old has struggled to rediscover his uncompromising form after his calf injuries.
Tomiyasu has only started four of his 15 Premier League appearances so far this season for 497 minutes. Each of his starting roles also came from left-back over Tierney in October as Oleksandr Zinchenko was missing. The Ukraine star was recovering from his own calf issue.
Arteta knows he can rely on Tomiyasu to come off the bench to help Arsenal see out their games, though. The Spaniard also saw the Japan international replace White at half-time at home to Manchester United last Sunday and go on to assist Bukayo Saka to make it 2-1.
It was Tomiyasu’s first assist of the term and second in all competitions so far this season in 22 outings. White has also laid on two assists over 25 games in all competitions with the Gunners. While Tierney has one in 23, starting 12, and Zinchenko has one in 15, starting 11.
Tierney and Tomiyasu watch Celtic games at Arsenal’s training ground
Tierney is now in his fourth campaign with Arsenal after leaving Celtic for a Scottish record £25m in 2019. Unai Emery signed the Bhoys product at 22 years old after 14 years with the Premiership giants. He helped the Hoops win five league titles as well as six domestic cups.
The left-back’s affection for the Parkhead outfit has not waned since the Scotland star left for north London, either. Now, Tierney says he wants to get Tomiyasu to support Celtic as the pair even watch Hoops matches together at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground.
“He’s a great player himself and an excellent teammate,” Tierney told The Scottish Sun. “He’s good company. I’m always speaking to Tomi and if ever there’s a Celtic game on at the training ground, he sits and watches it with me. I’ve tried to make him a Celtic fan!”
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