Takehiro Tomiyasu has revealed that one of the main motivations for signing a new contract at the club is to give something back to his teammates and our supporters.
The Japan international put pen to paper to extend his stay in north London which began in August 2021, and he has played a key role in helping us progress since then.
Having become a true fan favorite for his performances within our defence, Tomi would like to pay tribute to the love shown to him from the stands in the form of silverware during his next few years at the Emirates Stadium.
Reflecting on today’s announcement, he said: “I am very happy to extend my contract because Arsenal are the best club in the world. It’s a dream to play for this club, so I’m happy.
“When I’m on the pitch, I feel the love and energy of the fans. We are connected a lot so I want to give something back to them. I play for Arsenal, which means I play for the Arsenal fans. This is why I dedicate my life to this club and its supporters.
“I want to give them something back. The connection between players and fans is on a different level and that makes it more special.
He may only be 25 years old, but Tomi has already amassed a lot in his career, having played in four countries and represented his country at a World Cup and various other international tournaments.
He now finds himself playing for a team at the top of the Premier League and in the knockout stages of the Champions League, but excitingly for all Gooners, he feels that not everyone has yet saw the best of him. He strives to unlock his full potential in the coming seasons, although he laughs that at his young age he is one of the oldest members of a very young team!
Reflecting on our progress since his arrival, he said: “I think we have improved a lot because when I arrived we were not playing in a European competition but now we are playing in the Champions League and we are in the race for the title. I hope I’m better than before! I’m still learning a lot from Mikel and my teammates. I still have the ability to improve, so I will try to be a better player and also a better person.
“We have so many great players. I play as a full-back at Arsenal but when I play with the national team I play in central defense so I learn from the Arsenal defenders. They are so good, there is a big competition between the players but it is a good environment to become a better player so I am happy to be here.
“I’m not young anymore!” When you play at Arsenal we have a lot of young players and I’m getting older! I want to achieve something with my teammates and the supporters.
Watch Tomi’s full interview by pressing play on the video above, or test your knowledge of his time at the club with our quiz
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