PREMIER LEAGUE: ARSENAL DEFENSIVE SOLIDITY CONTINUES

North London giants Arsenal have turned the corner defensively in the Premier League since they conceded nine goals in their first three games and Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu is a big part of the newfound defensive solidity at the club.

Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal signed Japan national team utility defender Tomiyasu from Italian Serie A side Bologna, but he has been able to provehis doubters wrong with several assured displays in the Gunners defence. The Japan player has started all the seven Premier League matches since his arrival from Bologna on the final day of this summer’s transfer window. Tomiyasu is part of the Arsenal defence with four clean sheets in the last seven games. The Gunners have conceded just four goals in the seven league games with the clean sheet recorded in the away game against the Foxes at the weekend. Also, Arsenal have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three games away from home in the Premier League.

Chelsea have the best defensive record in the Premier League with three goals conceded in ten games and that has propelled them to the top of the Premier League table. Only Chelsea have conceded the least goals than Arsenal in the last seven games on the Premier League football scene. As stated earlier, Arsenal have conceded four goals in the last seven league games, while Chelsea have conceded two goals in the last seven games.

Japan defender Tomiyasu has started all his seven Arsenal games on the right side of defence. He was in the Arsenal defence alongside fellow summer arrivals Ben White and Nuno Tavares as well as Gabriel Magalhaes.

Brazilian defender Gabriel scored the first Arsenal goal against Leicester City in the fifth minute before England player Emile Smith-Rowe added a second goal on 18 minutes. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale thereafter made eight saves to keep hosts Leicester City out for the rest of the game.