Arsenal ace Takehiro Tomiyasu rejected deadline day Tottenham transfer before Gunners move

Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's victory against Leicester

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Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has revealed he rejected north London rivals Tottenham before giving the Gunners an ‘immediate yes’ on transfer deadline day. The Japanese international has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water following his £17million move from Bologna in August, slotting straight into Mikel Arteta’s back-four at right-back.

Tomiyasu is primarily a centre-back, who can also play at full-back, but his professionalism and attitude has seen him become an immediate hit at the Emirates Stadium, even if he is playing slightly out of position.

His is now considered to be a key fulcrum in Arsenal’s new-look backline, keeping three clean sheets in seven matches to turn the club’s season around following three straight defeats at the beginning of the campaign.

The defender has now revealed that he had the chance to join Spurs during the transfer window, an opportunity he decided to refuse.

He told DAZN in Japan: “I thought I wasn’t able to join Arsenal. I thought I was going to Spurs.

“On Deadline Day, I rejected them. Arsenal asked me to join them and I did immediately.”

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It wasn’t until Arsenal had agreed a loan deal with Real Betis for Hector Bellerin that they decide to make their move for the 22-year-old.

Arsenal sent delegates to Italy to complete the formalities, which took them right up until the 11pm transfer deadline.

Tomiyasu had to wait until he joined up with his new team-mates though after heading off to meet up with the Japan squad ahead of the first international break of the season.

He made his debut upon return, starting in the 1-0 win over Norwich at the Emirates Stadium.

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Tottenham had courted the Tomiyasu throughout the summer as they looked to offload Serge Aurier.

Talks with his representatives stalled as Tomiyasu headed off to the Olympic Games in the summer but there was optimism Spurs would reignite the deal upon his return to Europe.

That wasn’t the case though until Tottenham tried to wrap up the signing late in the day, by which point he had his heart set on a move to Arsenal.

Spurs then swooped to sign Emerson Royal, who was initially reluctant to join from Barcelona but he has quickly become a regular at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tomiyasu would also help Arsenal keep Spurs at bay in the north London derby as the Gunners cruised to a 3-1 victory back in September.

He was then crowned the club’s Player of the Month for September after receiving 51 per cent of the votes ahead of Aaron Ramsdale and Emile Smith Rowe.

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