Ryo Miyaichi has a bright future at the Emirates.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that talented young winger Ryo Miyaichi can become a really important player at the Emirates Stadium.
The 20-year-old has had limited opportunities at the Gunners since joining as a youth player in 2011 and has had loan spells at Feyenoord, Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.
Last year’s time at Wigan was cut short after only seven appearances for the Latics, when an ankle injury forced the Japan international back to north London.
Yet despite only featuring twice from the bench for Arsenal in two-and-a-half years at the club, Wenger is still clearly a fan.
“I have great hopes for Ryo because he has the traditional Japanese qualities,” the 63-year-old told the club’s website.
“Japanese players technically have a very good touch, they are mobile, agile, a bit lightweight but they move well. It’s usually a player that has a great attitude towards the team.
“Ryo has a fantastic attitude for sure.”
Wenger will be hoping Miyaichi can make more of an impact at the club than their previous Japanese player Junichi Inamoto did over 10 years ago.
Inamoto joined the Gunners on a free transfer from Gamba Osaka back in 2001, but managed just four appearances for the side before being moved on to Fulham.
However, at the time footballers from Japan were not as common place in Europe as they are currently, with 13 of the national squad in 2013 plying their trade in England, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Wenger will be probably be hoping that Miyaichi can become as much of a talent at Arsenal as fellow countryman Shinji Kagawa has been during his debut season at Manchester United.
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