Tomiyasu names the "aggressive" Arsenal player he fears most in training

Arsenal star Takehiro Tomiyasu has named the Gunners team-mate he least likes to face in training, highlighting his "aggression".

Mikel Arteta's side are currently five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, having lost just one of their 19 games this season. They have collected 50 points in the process.

Arsenal are also second in the league's scoring charts, with 45 goals (Manchester City have netted 53), and second in the defensive charts, with 16 goals conceded (Newcastle have let in 11) - so the work done on the training ground is clearly paying off.

Three new arrivals have begun work at London Colney in January and February, with Leandro Trossard, Jakub Kiwior and Jorginho all signing for the club during the recent transfer window.

Speaking in a recent interview, Tomiyasu was asked which of Arsenal's players is the one he would not like to face on matchdays - and the Japan international gave a clear answer.

Tomiyasu names "aggressive" Arsenal star

Speaking to GOAL, Tomiyasu replied: "Gabriel Martinelli. He never stops.

"He has pace, aggression. He's still young, but when he has the ball he wants to make the difference, he wants to do something."

Martinelli has been in superb form for the Gunners this season, netting seven goals and providing two assists in the Premier League. Only captain Martin Odegaard has more goals (eight).

His form was rewarded with a call-up to the Brazil squad for the World Cup in Qatar, and he made three appearances across the tournament. One of those games was a start, as he played 90 minutes in the 1-0 group stage defeat to Cameroon, with Brazil already having booked their place in the last 16 stage.

The Athletic reported last week that, prior to the side's FA Cup fourth round tie with Manchester City, Martinelli had agreed to a new four-and-a-half year deal with the club, to run until the summer of 2027. The contract is yet to officially confirmed by the club, but an agreement by the player will come as a major boost to Arteta and Arsenal.