Ian Wright seeking apology from Sky Sports reporter over ‘disrespectful’ Takehiro Tomiyasu claims
Comments made by Kaveh Solheko about Takehiro Tomiyasu when he signed for Arsenal have been branded ‘disrespectful’ by Ian Wright, who is now calling on the Sky Sports reporter to apologise for what he said.
The Japan star has been a bedrock of the Arsenal defence since arriving from Bologna in a £16m switch over the summer. Not that well known to English audiences, Tomiyasu opted for the Gunners after rival interest from Tottenham. His comments upon signing certainly went down well with the Arsenal faithful.
And his capture has proven a brilliant piece of business for Mikel Arteta. He has made the right-back berth his own and has played in every single minute of Premier League action. Indeed, his displays are a big factor in why the Gunners are now in firm contention for the Champions League places.
And he arguably enjoyed his best game yet for Arsenal after a great display at Leeds. Indeed, one clip of him in action went viral.
However, upon signing for Arsenal over the summer, Solheko cast doubt over what sort of player they actually getting.
“You know we were talking about the right back Arsenal have signed, Tomiyasu?” Solkeko asked on Sky Sports’ Deadline Show on August 31.
“I mentioned agents involved in the deal had contacted me to say: ‘Are any Premier League clubs looking for a right back?’
“I’ve just got a message to say: ‘Tomiyasu was offered to most clubs in the Premier League. He’s a good player but the problem is he’s not really a right-back, nor is he a central defender. I’m not sure how he will get on at Arsenal.’
“That is one of the agents who was trying to find him a club. We’re just confirming the information we have… people were trying to place him at a Premier League club, and he’s got a move to Arsenal.”
Clip goes viral
Unfortunately for Solheko, the clip has now gone viral again and was widely circulated after the win at Elland Road.
Normally a reliable source of information and a respected journalist, Wright though has now called on the Sky Sports man to apologise.
“Apologies as loud as the disrespect please!!!!!” Wright said on Twitter, while tagging in the reporter.
It’s maybe a tad unfair on Solheko given he was merely passing on the information he was receiving at the time.
And of course, few would have predicted just how good a player that Tomiyasu would have been for Arsenal.
Ian Wright a big fan of Tomiyasu
Indeed, the Japan star appears to now truly solved Arsenal’s right-back issues.
Takehiro Tomiyasu. What a bargain for Arsenal this summer.
— TEAMtalk (@TEAMtalk) December 20, 2021
During the struggles of Hector Bellerin towards his final year at Arsenal, the Gunners often deployed the likes of Calum Chambers and Rob Holding as makeshift options.
However, Tomiyasu’s arrival appears to have brought that search to a close.
Wright is seemingly a huge fan of Tomiyasu too. Speaking on his podcast back in September, he was quick to laud the former Bologna man.
“Tomiyasu, I don’t think anyone has gone past him,” he said.
“He’s a very shrewd signing. He’s been magnificent,” the player-turned-pundit said after the North London derby win over Tottenham.
“Massive big up to Tomiyasu,” Wright added. “He’s awesome, something is happening.”
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