Report: ‘Horribly fast’ Arsenal talent in line for debut v Norwich

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Arsenal summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu has reportedly been given the green light to make his Gunners debut this weekend.

According to the Evening Standard, the 22-year-old’s work permit has been approved ahead of Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Norwich.

Tomiyasu joined Arsenal on transfer deadline day for a reported £16million.

The Japan star met Gunners boss Mikel Arteta for the first time on Thursday and trained with his new teammates.

Tomiyasu was still waiting for his work permit on Thursday morning – without it, he wouldn’t have been able to feature against Norwich.

But now he’s reportedly got the all-clear, he will surely fancy his chances of making the matchday squad, or perhaps even starting.

Arsenal newcomer Tomiyasu – the story so far

Tomiyasu spent two years at Bologna prior to his Arsenal move.

He joined the Serie A side from Belgium’s Sint-Truiden for a reported £6.3million.

Prior to joining Sint-Truiden, he came through the ranks at Japanese club Avispa Fukuoka.

He made 64 appearances for Bologna, registering three goals and three assists for the Italians.

In addition, Tomiyasu has won 24 senior caps for Japan, scoring once, and competed at the Tokyo Olympics this summer.

“Horribly fast” player

Tomiyasu was set to take up swimming as a youngster before a chance encounter changed his trajectory.

He was playing football in the hallway of his apartment, when teacher Kanji Tsuji came over to visit his parents.

Tsuji, also general manager of an elementary school’s football set-up, was impressed with Tomiyasu’s speed and convinced him to try the game.

Recalling the meeting, he told Sponichi, as quoted by The Sun: “When he dribbled, probably no one in Fukuoka had a leg to catch up with him. He was horribly fast.”