Arsenal had a last minute boost before the transfer window closed on Tuesday with the signing of Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu moving from Italy.
The £15.5million former Bologna right-back has come in as Hector Bellerin’s replacement in the Gunners squad, yet he’s far from the most high-profile arrival from Serie A.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s sensational return to Manchester United was also completed as the all-time great left Juventus, while Chelsea broke their transfer record to sign Romelu Lukaku for £97m from Inter Milan.
Tomiyasu, 22, won’t be too pleased to see either of the pair though, having matched up against them on five separate occasions during his two-year Serie A career.
Bologna lost all but one of the matches, a 2-1 win over Inter in July 2020, but he will still be having nightmares about Lukaku, who scored in all three of their encounters.
His worst moment came in a 3-1 loss in December 2020, when Tomiyasu attempted to pull Lukaku’s shirt in the box, stopping him running onto a cross.
His plan didn’t quite work out though, with the now-Chelsea striker fighting back and dumping him on the floor before putting the ball in the net.
Even in the 2-1 defeat Lukaku tormented Tomiyasu, tapping in a rebound after the Japan international allowed Ashley Young to put an easy cross in the penalty area, with Young nutmegging him soon after for a great chance.
The story wasn’t too different when he clashed against Ronaldo either, with the Portuguese striker managing a goal and an assist in their two encounters.
Tomiyasu became Arsenal’s sixth summer recruit on Tuesday, following Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Aaron Ramsdale, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares through the door.
Mikel Arteta’s side sit rock-bottom of the Premier League with nine goals conceded and zero scored in their opening three games, putting the first-time manager under huge pressure.
Arteta has been offered a helping hand though, by former Gunners great Sol Campbell.
“I’d love to go there and help them out, I would,” the Invincibles legend said on Wednesday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.
“There is a serious problem there and I’m happy to help, even if it’s a couple of days a week.
“The tricks of the trade and little things, there is a blind spot there and I’d help them out all day long.”
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