Takehiro Tomiyasu believes he’ll be in better shape for Japan’s next match, and he’s vowed to try and stop Ivan Perisic on behalf of the Arsenal fans.

Takehiro Tomiyasu has been struggling with a leg injury during Japan’s World Cup campaign so far, only featuring from the bench in the wins over Germany and Spain.

The injury was a hangover from his final games with Arsenal, where he picked up the problem. But Tomiyasu believes he’s heading in the right direction now, and he’ll be in better shape for Japan’s next game against Croatia on Monday.

“After playing against Spain, I was able to adjust my condition in a good way, so I think I’ll be in even better shape for the next match,” Tomiyasu told reporters.

Assuming he’s fit to start that match, Tomiyasu might end up facing off against north London rival Ivan Perisic. Questioned on that subject, the defender said he’d like to try and stop the Tottenham Hotspur man for the Arsenal supporters back home.

“I would like to make sure that I can’t let him play, because I play for Arsenal and it’s Tottenham,” Tomiyasu said. “I want to tighten that up. I think the Arsenal fans don’t want me to allow him to play as well.

“It’s the same for the supporters, and when you play for Arsenal, that kind of awareness will spring up. As an Arsenal player, it will be a battle that can never be lost.”

Tomiyasu’s primary motivation will obviously be to reach the quarter-final of the World Cup with Japan, and their last-16 draw certainly could have been worse.

With tournament favourites Brazil, France, and Argentina still in the competition, along with the likes of England and Portugal, Japan will probably view Croatia as a side they’re more likely to be able to compete with.

On the other hand, after they beat Germany and Spain and lost to Costa Rica, maybe Japan would have been hoping for another giant to slay!