In a scathing critique, former Tottenham Hotspur luminary Jamie Redknapp has singled out Takehiro Tomiyasu for his lackluster display in Arsenal’s 2-1 capitulation to Fulham in the Premier League.
Expressing disappointment, Redknapp lambasted Tomiyasu, who replaced Jakub Kiwior at halftime, asserting that the Japanese player appeared “lost” and acted as a “nuisance” to his own team during the match at Craven Cottage on New Year’s Eve.
Initially taking the lead through Bukayo Saka, Arsenal succumbed to a spirited Fulham comeback, with goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid securing a well-deserved victory.
Offering his analysis on Sky Sports, Redknapp opined, “[Saka’s opener] should have been the catalyst for Arsenal to go on and win this game so comfortably… Tomiyasu came into midfield and all he did was make a nuisance of himself for his own team. He was never given any width. He looked lost in there.”
Redknapp further criticized Arsenal’s midfield, emphasizing their shortcomings in creativity and goal-scoring potential despite possessing copious possession. He underscored, “They were not creating enough, so they were not going to score goals. So much possession without the purpose you need.”
The fallout from Tomiyasu’s underwhelming performance and Redknapp’s stinging rebuke is poised to reverberate through Arsenal’s fanbase and the broader footballing world, casting scrutiny on the player and the team’s overall strategy.
