Takehiro Tomiyasu has given a surprising answer when asked to name who he thinks is the fastest player at Arsenal.
The Gunners have a number of seriously quick players, from Bukayo Saka to Gabriel Martinelli, and their threat on the break make Arsenal a frightening team to play against.
However, according to Tomiyasu, the fastest player at Arsenal is a player who rarely gets a chance to start these days.
Indeed, speaking to StatSports, Tomiyasu named Eddie Nketiah as the player he believes is the quickest at Arsenal.
Eddie Nketiah is Arsenal’s fastest player says Takehiro Tomiyasu
Tomiyasu named Nketiah when he was asked who he believes is the fastest player at Arsenal.
“Who do you think is the quickest player at Arsenal this season?” Tomiyasu was asked.
“Eddie,” Tomiyasu said.
Eddie Nketiah is rapid
It’s often understated just how quick Eddie Nketiah is because of the way Arsenal play.
The Gunners much prefer to play with a striker who drops deep and links the play rather than a centre-forward who runs in behind, and perhaps that’s why we’ve not really seen the best of Nketiah at Arsenal.
Nketiah has the ability to be dynamite in a team that lines up with their striker tasked with sitting on the shoulder of the last defender and beating the offside trap, but, at Arsenal, he rarely, if ever, gets the opportunity to do that.
Nketiah’s speed is one of his key attributes, but the way Mikel Arteta plays often negates that.
Nketiah’s gametime has reduced more and more as the season has gone on, and he’s reportedly likely to be sold this summer.
In the right team playing a system that suits him, Nketiah could make a real impact at Premier League level.
Fingers crossed Nketiah gets to showcase his abilities next season, be that at Arseanl or elsewhere.