Arsenal will have gone into the international break in high spirits after maintaining a four-match unbeaten run in the Premier League ahead of the break.
Wins against Norwich, Burnley and Tottenham were followed by a 0-0 draw away to high-flying Brighton and the Gunners will be eager to continue that fine form when Crystal Palace visit the Emirates.
One player who has made an impressive start to life in north London is right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu. Signed from Bologna on deadline day by Mikel Arteta, Tomiyasu has slotted in seamlessly to an Arsenal defence that had struggled badly at the start of the campaign.
The past two weeks has seen him jet off with Japan for crucial 2022 World Cup qualifiers. They lost the first game of the break 2-1 against Saudi Arabia but, on Tuesday, picked up a huge three points against Australia.
Tomiyasu played the full match for Japan at centre-back, partnering Maya Yoshida, and impressed, winning seven duels throughout the 90 minutes. It was his 25th match for his country and the defender appears to be an integral part of Hajime Moriyasu's side.
Perhaps most impressive, however, was that it marked the first time that the Australians had not won a World Cup qualifier for 11 matches - a world record.
The Socceroos still sit top of the qualification table on nine points, level with Saudi Arabia, but are now just three ahead of Tomiyasu and co.
It is the latest performance in what has likely been a hugely confidence-boosting couple of months for Tomiyasu, and Arsenal will be hoping to reap the rewards in the weeks ahead.
Arsenal next face Crystal Palace on Monday, October 18 and Tomiyasu will be hoping the Gunners can extend their recent run of good form.
