It's Not Easy Playing In Champions League, Premi

Japanese and Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu says that playing in the UEFA Champions League was his biggest dream.

Tomiyasu joined the Gunners from Serie A outfit Bologna on a four year deal in 2021.

In 2023 Arsenal made a return to the Champions League after a six year wait and period of playing in the UEFA Europa League.

They even had one season where they didn’t participate in any European competition.

The Mikel Arteta led side play Sevilla in a Champions League game on Wednesday, November 8 at the Emirates Stadium.

Speaking in the pre-match conference Tomiyasu said the team is focused on the impending clash with the team from Seville.

“To play in the Champions League was my biggest dream so I’m happy to play in it. I just want to play on the pitch as long as I can,” arsenal.com quoted Tomiyasu as saying.

“We are really focused on tomorrow’s game. We need to bounce back from Saturday’s game. It’s a massive opportunity for us to qualify for the next stage. It’s a massive game for us and we’re playing to get three points against them.

“It’s not easy to play in the Champions League and Premier League, but we need to be fit and available as much as we can because already we’ve lost some players with injuries. For me I need to be fit and available as much as I can.

“It’s not easy and my role changed each game but the most important thing is how to behave on the pitch, how much you want to win the game, how much you want to beat your opponent. This doesn’t change. My job is to give 100 percent on the pitch. It doesn’t matter which position I play in.”

The London based club defeated Sevilla 2-1 in the first leg of the tie on October 24.

Arsenal are in pole position to make the round of 16 as they are number one in Group B in the Champions League with six points after matchday three.

The Gunners are in fourth position on the Premier League table with 24 points accumulated in 11 matches.

Tomiyasu has made three appearances in the Champions League so far this season.

He has scored once in nine Premier League games in the 2023/24 campaign.