Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explains why he took Takehiro Tomiyasu off against Norwich

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has explained why he took Takehiro Tomiyasu off against Norwich.

The Gunners summer signing made his debut in Saturday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates.

And he played well as Arsenal ran out 1-0 winners over the Canaries, finally getting their first points of the season.

Tomiyasu won plenty of aerial duels, looked tidy in possession and was a threat going forward, as shown by his volley on the stroke of half time.

However, Arteta’s decision to take the 22-year-old off just after the hour raised some eyebrows.

At this point, the Gunners were still goalless, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s winning strike not coming until the 66th minute.

After the game, Arteta spoke about Tomiyasu’s display and revealed that he was suffering from cramp.

“Really positive,” the Spaniard told the Arsenal media team about the Japan international’s display.

“Just the first impression when you met him, it was just joy and happiness and good energy.

“The moment he steps on the pitch he was really focused, determined, he understands the role really good.

“He was cramping. Obviously he only trained a day and a half with us, he had to travel, and emotionally it was his first game and we had to take him off.”