Takehiro Tomiyasu impressed at centre-back for Japan against Germany on Saturday, leading some to question whether he should play there for Arsenal.

Germany took on Japan in a friendly match over the weekend, with Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu starting for the away side.

Whilst Tomiyasu is generally used in a full-back role for Arsenal, often at right-back but also sometimes at left-back, the defender has a different role for his country, playing as a left-centre-back.

Germany are generally considered to be one of the top footballing countries, but Japan made light work of them in a 4-1 victory, with Tomiyasu putting in a starring defensive performance.

The Arsenal man made six clearances, three interceptions, blocked one shot, and made one tackle, but he was just as impressive on the ball, completing 86% of his passes including six of 11 long balls.

The footage of the game shows Tomiyasu looking comfortable and composed at centre-back, raising questions about his Arsenal role.

https://twitter.com/Lhastim3/status/1700625929729352107

Mikel Arteta was somewhat forced into using Tomiyasu on the left at the start of this season, with Oleksandr Zinchenko not fully fit, and Jurrien Timber picking up an injury.

But now that Zinchenko is available on the left and Ben White is starting on the right, perhaps Tomiyasu could be a more serious option in the middle.

There’s tough competition in the Arsenal defence right now, with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba starting and Jakub Kiwior as another option at left-centre-back.

Yet as the season goes on and the fixtures are coming thick and fast, players will need rests, and Tomiyasu is proving he can be a good option all the way across the back four.