Arsenal already have a clear idea of what they want to achieve in the upcoming January transfer window.
Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the additions he was able to make to his Arsenal squad in the recent summer transfer window.
Riccardo Calafiori has impressed Arsenal fans since his arrival from Bologna, and has added to the competition for places in the Arsenal defensive contingent. The likes of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Jakub Kiwior may now feel on the fringes of things.
Tomiyasu was handed only his first appearance of the season on Saturday, as he featured as a second half substitute against Southampton having recovered from injury.
Fitness issues have been a recurring problem for the Japanese defender throughout his time at the Emirates Stadium, further limiting his playing opportunities.
(2ndL) Takehiro Tomiyasu with (L) Manager Mikel Arteta and (R) Sporting Director Edu as he signs a new contract at Arsenal at Sobha Realty Training…
Arsenal transfer stance on Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu may well soon decide that his best chance of establishing himself as a regular starter will involve leaving the North London club.
However, the Gunners are not yet ready to consider parting with the 25-year-old.
According to journalist Graeme Bailey, speaking exclusively to Arsenal Insider: “I’m told they like him a lot… I don’t think Tomiyasu goes in January, from what I’m hearing. The one thing Arsenal will not do is leave themselves short for the run-in. That’s the last thing they’re going to do…Long-term, yeah, I think they probably will let him go, but they like him.”
Arsenal fans have expressed frustration with Tomiyasu’s injuries, and with Calafiori, Jurrien Timber, and Ben White all impressing in full-back roles, it is hard to see the 42-cap Japan international rising up the pecking order any time soon.
When fit, though, Tomiyasu can impress for the Gunners, and his versatility – as he is able to slot in comfortably anywhere across the back line – makes him a useful option for Arteta to be able to call upon.
Mikel Arteta maintaining squad depth
In each of the last two seasons Arsenal have finished as runners up in the Premier League, with poor results in the final stretch of the campaign ultimately costing them the title.
Arteta is clearly determined to avoid a repeat of these disappointments, and the way to do so is to keep his players fresh until the bitter end of the season. The only way the Spanish coach can achieve that is by having a strong and deep enough squad to cope with a hectic fixture schedule.
However, Arteta must also learn from his own past mistakes, and have enough faith in his squad to rotate his starting XI regularly.
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