Takehiro Tomiyasu beats out competition from fellow summer signing to clinch Arsenal award

 

Defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has been named as Arsenal’s Player of the Month for September, the club have confirmed.

Gunners hard at work

Japanese international Tomiyasu of course marked the final arrival at the end of a busy summer on the red half of North London.

Amid a long overdue effort to rejuvenate the playing squad at the Emirates, Edu and co. oversaw a host of moves both on the incoming and outgoing fronts.

In terms of the latter, the likes of Joe Willock, Hector Bellerin and David Luiz were all moved on, either on a loan or permanent basis.

Newcastle United’s English midfielder Joe Willock celebrates after scoring the equalising goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on April 24, 2021. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP)

Through the door in the English capital, meanwhile, came no fewer than six players.

Ahead of the window slamming shut, all of Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Nuno Tavares and Sambi Lokonga were brought in to bolster the ranks of Mikel Arteta.

Then, on deadline day late in August, much needed additions were forthcoming at right-back, too.

After the aforementioned Bellerin was granted a move to Real Betis, the Gunners swooped decisively, to lure Takehiro Tomiyasu to the Emirates from Serie A outfit Bologna:

Ready to go 💪

📸 tomiyasu.t on Instagram pic.twitter.com/hMTBQSk2Ho

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 1, 2021

Gracious Gunners

And Tomiyasu, a versatile 22-year-old defender with experience both in one of Europe’s top divisions and on the international stage, has since gone on to enjoy a superb start to life in England.

Just days on from his arrival, the Japanese was handed a start in Arsenal’s Premier League meeting with Norwich City, impressing en route to a clean sheet, followed by another a week later in a hard-fought showdown with Burnley.

‘Tomi’ then shone once more as Mikel Arteta’s men continued their resurgence courtesy of a 3-1 triumph in the North London Derby, his last of three league appearances across September.

And, as outlined above, on Thursday, the no nonsense stopper has been rewarded for his stellar opening month in the colours of Arsenal.

As per an official announcement across the club’s social media platforms, Tomiyasu has been named as the Gunners’ Player of the Month for September.

The 22-year-old secured a hefty 51% of the vote, beating out competition from fellow summer arrival Aaron Ramsdale in 2nd, and Emile Smith Rowe in 3rd:

🥇 September Player of the Month ✅

What’s most impressed you about Tomi so far? 💭

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 7, 2021

 

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