Arsene Wenger praised the ability of summer signing Takuma Asano, as the Japanese international’s goal against Thailand drew admiring glances.
The 21-year-old is on loan at Bundesliga side Stuttgart, after failing to get a work permit to feature in the Premier League for Arsenal.
Wenger told the club’s official website: “What I see in him is the quality of his runs, his pace, his body strength and he is quite aggressive. You do not find many players today who go behind the defenders at every opportunity.”
Asano was one of five players bought by the Gunners during the summer transfer window, but the only one who failed to get the appropriate visa to play in England.
As well as the former Sanfrecce Hiroshima front-man, Wenger spent just under £100 million on defenders Rob Holding and Shkodran Mustafi, defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka and striker Lucas Perez.
He added: “I’m personally a strong believer in him, because by coincidence after I bought him I met the national coach of Japan and he is absolutely convinced about him.”
While the Emirates will have to wait to see Asano’s talents, Mustafi and Perez are set to make their north London debuts in the Premier League game against Southampton on Saturday.
The Saints have never beaten them in the league at the Emirates, but new boss Claude Puel will hope to re-write history as they’re currently 15th in the table, drawing two and losing one of their opening three games.
Arsenal got their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road, after losing to Liverpool on the opening weekend and drawing 0-0 at Premier League champions Leicester City.
COMMENTS