Takehiro Tomiyasu has not been a starting member of Mikel Arteta’s squad for this season so far. His own fitness issues at the beginning of the season meant that Ben White was brought in to deputise and has made the position his own.
Arsenal won their opening five matches with White playing over the Japanese international. However, despite Arteta debunking rumours of the England international’s fitness being in question, the potential absence of Oleksandr Zinchenko remains.
According to media in Ukraine, the player will not join up with the national side due to a calf problem expected to keep him out of the side for the next two weeks. Arteta would not be drawn on speculation on the Ukrainian, however.
READ MORE: Arsenal press conference highlights: Arteta on White's fitness, Zinchenko injury and Brentford
That said, it appears Kieran Tierney, the most likely deputy to Zinchenko, is not the only option that Arteta backs to cover the 25-year-old former Manchester City defender. The Arsenal manager was asked about the potential of Tomiyasu as cover in different areas of the defence.
“[Tomiyasu] can play central defender as well. Tomi has been playing left centre-back for the Japan national team, when you look at his games, he is great.
“He can play as a left-back because you could not tell if he’s a right or left-footed player. So, we have the options there and we have to utilise them in the best possible way, especially with the number of minutes we’re going to have in the next few weeks. It’s great that players are comfortable in more than one position.”
Arsenal will have nine games to play in October. Four matches in the Europa League home and away to Bodo/Glimt and PSV sandwiching fixtures with Spurs, Liverpool, Leeds, Southampton and Nottingham Forest.
Injuries are bound to occur and Tomiyasu’s versatility, as Arteta describes it, is bound to be a priceless asset to the team. Many of the Gunners' defenders share these traits. White, Kieran Tierney, Cedric Soares and William Saliba can play in more than one role in the back line.
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