Arsenal journalist Charles Watts doesn’t think that new signing Takehiro Tomiyasu will be thrown straight into the mix for their game against Norwich City at the weekend.
The Japanese defender signed for the club on deadline day after a summer in which he was heavily linked with a move to the Gunners’ north London rivals. But given the timing of his signature combined with the international break, he hasn’t had any time within the Arsenal system as he has been away on duty with Japan, completing 90 minutes in their most recent game against China.
Speaking about the 22-year-old on the latest edition of his show, Watts claimed that because of the lack of time he’s been able to spend with his new club, he may not be given the chance to start their upcoming game at the Emirates Stadium:
“I’d be surprised if he gets straight into the team on Saturday against Norwich given he’s not met his teammates, he’s not even been to the training ground, he’s just been away playing for Japan, so he’s on the other side of the world.
“He’s going to come back, I imagine it’ll be his first day at Colney [on Thursday], meeting everyone, getting adjusted to the surroundings, meeting Mikel Arteta, meeting the coaching staff, his teammates.
“I just think it’d be a big, big surprise if he goes straight into the starting lineup against Norwich on Saturday. I’d expect Tomiyasu to be on the bench.
TIF Thoughts on Charles Watts’ comments about Takehiro Tomiyasu at Arsenal…
Will Takehiro Tomiyasu be a success at Arsenal?
Yes
No
Watts is probably right here when it comes to Tomiyasu and his place in the team, because it would be asking a lot of him to step right off the plane from international duty and into the starting XI before he’s had a chance to get assimilated to the rest of his teammates.
Whilst everyone has to make their debut at some time for a club, to do so with so little preparation under their belt could be a disaster waiting to happen.
Given Arsenal’s terrible start to the season, the last thing they need is to bring in a player who hasn’t had enough time to be fully integrated into the team and understand their way of playing, as that could lead to a couple of errors as he gets adjusted to the formation and positions of his teammates.
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