Throughout what has been a very successful preseason for Arsenal much of the focus has been on their attack. The arrival of Gabriel Jesus has revolutionised the Gunners' frontline, and with a multitude of unpredictable combinations available up top Mikel Arteta 's men were able to notch up 26 goals in just seven matches. Less attention has been paid to their backline, however.
Arsenal have conceded just six times in preseason and the addition of William Saliba has played a huge part in that. The Frenchman has looked unflappable in his opening few games after returning from his loan with Marseille and has been described by Arteta as "ready" to make the step up to Premier League level.
As the Gunners prepare for their opening fixture against Crystal Palace on Friday though, this also creates an interesting dilemma at right back. Technically the club are stuffed with options in the position. Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are still at the club, while Reuell Walters has impressed in preseason and Brooke Norton-Cuffy has turned heads during a loan spell at Lincoln City too. However, with the former pair likely to leave this summer and the latter unlikely to play consistently at first team level just yet, it would seem Arsenal have three realistic options in the position. Here
Takehiro Tomiyasu
The Japanese international failed to play a minute in pre-season and wasn't even able to train with the group who travelled to the USA as he continues to recover from his latest injury. Takehiro Tomiyasu was sublime in the first part of last season, but is far from the nailed-on starter he would have been had he not missed the entire back half of the campaign with calf and hamstring issues.
The 23-year-old's strengths are clear. Defensively he is sublime and when he is at his best there aren't too many wingers who can get past him. He is superb in the air too and ranked in the 98th percentile among Premier League full backs for aerial duels won last season. This cover enables Bukayo Saka to attack with more freedom on the right wing and also allowed Ben White to go on his line-breaking dribbles at will in the first part of last season.
Tomiyasu is also good in possession which enables him to come infield and contribute to the build-up in a manner perfectly suited to the inverted full back role that he has been asked to play. The Japan defender's two-footedness is also a useful tool when it comes to beating the opposition press. These skills enable Arsenal to push forward in the 2-3-5 set-up that Arteta wants from his side in possession.
Ben White
It has been fascinating to watch White operate at right-back during the latter part of Arsenal's pre-season campaign. The England international missed the early games with a quad injury, but since returning to fitness he has left tactical nerds weak at the knees with his interpretation of the right-back role.
Like Tomiyasu, White has come infield most of the time where his ability on the ball has been allowed to shine. He has been just as willing to switch it out to Gabriel Martinelli on the left, play it through the middle to Martin Odegaard, or pass it down the line to Bukayo Saka on the right. New signing Oleksandr Zinchenko has also tucked in over on the left to enable the Gunners' two 'eights' in midfield to push up and this unpredictability in the build-up has made Arsenal a dangerous offensive prospect.
We saw hints of what White could do at right back in games last season, but without him in the middle Arsenal lost that ability to break the lines from the heart of defence. Now with Saliba in the squad they have a player capable of replicating this, leaving White as a far more palatable option on the right.
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