August 31, (THEWILL) – In a deadline day deal, beleaguered English Premier League side Arsenal have agreed a fee with Bologna to bring Takehiro Tomiyasu to Mikel Arteta’s north London club.
The Gunners agreed a fee of €20 million plus bonuses of €3 million with Bologna for the Japanese defender’s signature. The late deal sees Bologna not looking to bring in any immediate replacement for the defender and will play the season with the squad they have.
Arsenal had held talks previously with Tomiyasu’s agents to close the deal. The deal appeared to be inconclusive and as the clock ticked towards Tuesday’s deadline, seemed unlikely until reports revealed that it was nearly completion to beat the close of your transfer season.
Now, indications are that the business to bring the Japanese defender to the Emirates is all but done. And, after their most tumultuous start to an EPL season, Arsenal are bolstering their defence with the Bologna’s player.
Earlier in the transfer season, the versatile centre-back was linked with a move to Arsenal’s city rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have enjoyed a far better season start with their 100 percent record of three wins in three keeping them at the top of the League standings.
They also managed to retain their record goal-scorer Harry Kane after a torrid drama that began with the English striker desiring to leave but changing his mind after bids from English champions Manchester City were rejected and City pulled out.
Yet, the question of the season for Arsenal remains if Arteta will remain as manager given the utterly abysmal performance of the team in the matches played so far that has seen the red side of London go into the international break with three embarrassing losses, no goals to speak of and a transfer season that saw Arsenal outspend every other EPL side with little overall improvements.
While two defenders have arrived, with the latest inclusion of Tomiyasu to Ben White who joined earlier, there is a lot to the terrible displays of the team this season than a defensive overall. The statistics that jumps to mind is the measly 19% ball possession Arsenal was able to muster in the 5-0 pummelling the club received at City.
There is also the question of indiscipline to consider with Granit Xhaka picking up the club’s first red card of the season in just the third game of the campaign. It remains to be seen what another defensive investment will bring given that William Saliba, whom Arsenal bought from Saint-Étienne was released on loan again.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
