Takehiro Tomiyasu has been praised for his toughness and likened to Arsenal icons of past decades.
The Japan international arrived from Bologna in the summer and went straight into Mikel Arteta's starting line-up for the 1-0 victory over Norwich.
He has missed just one league match since then - the 5-0 victory over the same opponents at Carrow Road last month - and his displays have drawn praise from all quarters.
His no-nonsense approach has won him several admirers, including former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, who has compared the right back with former players Lee Dixon and Lauren.
Both won titles with the Gunners during the golden years of Arsene Wenger's reign, making Campbell's comments very high praise indeed.
'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,’ Campbell told the Highbury Squad Youtube channel.
'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.’
Arsenal were due in Carabao Cup action this week, however, their semi-final first-leg clash with Liverpool was postponed due to a Covid outbreak in the Reds camp.
Instead, Arteta's men are now preparing for a clash with Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday evening.
Voneklprty
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any where smith rowe is i see victory ana faa akiwe first eleven ama ajee
Voneklprty
1
[image]
this is what am talking about
yanbcimy
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lord_henry-14
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Agreed 👍
lord_henry-14
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I’ve never seen Lee Dixon played but I’ve seen Lauren played and I must say Tomiyasu is better than Laurel
[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]Are you kidding me?
hubamnyz
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whenever i see this lineup....i feel the game is over before even it started
BesuT/mariam
3
This could be the best lineup for next year
Ritabiku
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best line up
Leeabenosu
1
Without partey this line up is good we can subs laca smith odegaard xhaka lokonga Ok we can play simple 4-3-3 with luiz DM and sanches tavares/lokonga CM dont play xhaka he is good at pitch agressive character but silly fouls cost us defeat when partey is back i can prefer this line up 4-3-3 with dougals luiz or partey DM and sanches support with 3 frontline isak saka gabi
cemabpruyz
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I’ve never seen Lee Dixon played but I’ve seen Lauren played and I must say Tomiyasu is better than Laurel
Dixon was a very good defender. Didn’t offer much going foreword but fullbacks didn’t do that much those days. Similar quality. Completely different type
vipaekors
1
I’ve never seen Lee Dixon played but I’ve seen Lauren played and I must say Tomiyasu is better than Laurel
my dear no. You never watched arsenal of before well. Lauren was one of the best right backs of that generation in the whole world.
cemabpruyz
1
It’s a different era. The game is completely different. But as far as being a quality fullback. Yes
Tobilacazette
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I’ve never seen Lee Dixon played but I’ve seen Lauren played and I must say Tomiyasu is better than Laurel
zeccdiopu
3
That’s our beast