Oleksandr Zinchenko could be frozen out at Arsenal after development – pundit
Noel Whelan has claimed Mikel Arteta won’t want to take Takehiro Tomiyasu out of the Arsenal side after his “brilliant” performance in an unfamiliar left-back berth.
The former Leeds striker was speaking exclusively to Football Insider after the Gunners’ 3-2 win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday (9 October).
Tomiyasu had to come into the Arsenal lineup at left-back after a muscle injury to Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The Japan international, who can play at centre-back and right-back, recorded the most ground duels, aerial duels, recoveries, and tackles for the Gunners as he kept Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah quiet (as per club media).
Natural left-back Kieran Tierney watched on from the bench as his side went back to the top of the table ahead of Man City.
Tomiyasu has started just three games this season after a number of injury problems.
Whelan suggested the former Bologna man will have endeared himself greatly to Arteta with his performance.
He told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “I thought he was brilliant.
“I was watching, thinking: ‘Am I seeing a mirror image here? He’s on the wrong side.’
“But he didn’t look out of place. He was strong, quick, and there was just nothing Salah could do to get past him.
“That just shows what a good player he is, the fact that he can adapt to playing either side as well as at centre-back.
“It will have been really pleasing to see for Arteta – and more to the point, he won’t want to take him out of that side.
“If you can keep a player like Salah quiet, and put in that performance on your weaker side, then you’re quite rightly a standout.
“He was someone who really impressed me by nullifying one of Liverpool’s massive strengths.”
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