Ian Wright hails "reliable" Arsenal star after vital Champions League win
Arsenal returned to winning ways in the Champions League on Tuesday, and the Gunners will be hoping to do the same in the Premier League when they host Sheffield United this weekend.
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli fired Mikel Arteta's side to a 2-1 victory in Seville as they bounced back from the defeat at Lens on matchday two. It was a professional performance from the Gunners, who survived a late scare from the home side to secure all three points.
Now, Arsenal return to top-flight action on Saturday with the winless Blades the visitors to the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw against Chelsea last weekend Here is the latest news from the club.
Wright praises Tomiyasu
Ex-Arsenal forward Ian Wright has heaped praise on Takehiro Tomiyasu - and hailed his "reliable" qualities after impressing during the Gunners' win against Sevilla.
The Japan international started his fourth match of the season in Spain after replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back and he did not look out of place, putting in an assured display as they moved back to the top of their Champions League group.
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"I'm always happy to see Tomiyasu start because nothing is getting past him," Wright told Wrighty's House Podcast. "He's so reliable, his strength, positional awareness, when he gets on the ball he has no problem passing the ball progressing it. It's very rare you see anyone get past him, he's just a dependable player, 8/10 every week."
Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright has praised Takehiro Tomiyasu (Getty Images)Arteta on Champions League form
Mikel Arteta has hailed the importance of beating Sevilla in the context of their campaign as they bounced back from being beaten on the second matchday against Lens.
"That's the Champions League, that's the group stages and that shows you the difficulty of winning, and how much you have to value that," the Spaniard said in his post-match press conference. "Against Lens, obviously, that result put us in difficult position and the team had to react.
"We are coming off the back of a period of very difficult games, and the team constantly has to step in, and go against adversity as well, and injuries that we've picked up with some big players. The team is so willing and so determined to at least try their best."
Jesus reflects on Arsenal performances
It proved to a night to remember for Jesus who scored and grabbed an assist in the win over Sevilla, and was awarded with the Player of the Match award in the process.
The Brazilian now has four goals so far this season and he has opened up on his form, as well as aiming to score more after netting just 11 times in 2023/24. "Man, for a long time I was doubting my quality, not for a long time, but obviously after the 2018 World Cup I was doubting a little bit of my quality, of the player that I can be, that I am, of the qualities that I have, what I can evolve," the striker told TNT Sports.
"But after the World Cup I realised that football doesn't give you time to be very happy or very sad, you have to work. And I have been working, I have been evolving. I have been working very hard, both here and in the national team when I am there.
"And about being the number nine, I'm working, I'm in my own, quiet, I close my ears, I have said many times that my greatest quality is obviously not a goalscorer like many attackers, but I can do it, I get there.
"Just as I did before, I will again try to work and come back as strong as possible. And then everything is in the hands of the coach, obviously, as always, but I playing with joy and loose, I think it will always be better for me."
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