Following a strong display during Japan’s recent international fixtures, Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu speaks about his time at the club, his aspirations, and the challenges faced during his tenure.

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has expressed his intention to reclaim his place as an Arsenal first-team regular after putting in strong performances for Japan during the international break.

The 24-year-old started his journey with Arsenal on a high after transferring from Bologna in 2021. However, a combination of injuries and competition from Ben White saw him lose his position at right-back.

Previously, in July, Tomiyasu revealed that his confidence was affected after being overshadowed by White.

Following Japan’s victories against Germany and Turkey, he believes he’s moving past these concerns.

Elaborating, Tomiyasu said, “I had to convince myself, or rather, I needed to give myself confidence. I felt like I needed to regain my confidence. I wondered if it has become a problem.

“But at Arsenal it’s different, so if you ask me if I can just do that at Arsenal, that’s a different story. At Arsenal, too, I need to do my best to secure a spot in the squad.”

Tomiyasu’s performances on the international stage have added to his aspirations.

He stated, “I’d like to say that, but I gained a lot of confidence from the way I played in these two international matches.

“My days at Arsenal are really demanding, so if you ask me if I’m going to regain my confidence completely, I can’t say 100 per cent yes. I really feel like I’m doing well at Arsenal.

“I just need to be confident when I am there.”

During Japan’s friendly match against Germany, Tomiyasu, typically utilised as a full-back for Arsenal, played in a left-centre-back position. This match saw Japan claim a convincing 4-1 victory, and Tomiyasu’s contribution was praised.

His statistics included six clearances, three interceptions, one blocked shot, and an impressive 86% pass completion rate.

That performance has sparked discussions regarding his role at Arsenal. While Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, previously played Tomiyasu on the left due to player unavailability, the return of Oleksandr Zinchenko and the inclusion of Ben White on the right might see Tomiyasu considered for a central role.

However, Arsenal‘s defensive line sees stiff competition with players like Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, but as the fixture list intensifies, Tomiyasu’s versatility may prove valuable for the team.

A fresh opportunity has also arisen for Tomiyasu at Arsenal due to the serious knee injury sustained by new signing Jurrien Timber during his Premier League debut.