Arsenal players love Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka makes life easier but is training nightmare along with tough winger

Life is easier when one of the best young players in football is on your team.

Takehiro Tomiyasu certainly feels that way when it comes to Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka, with the full-back and winger building a blossoming relationship on the pitch.

Tomiyasu has already opened his account this term and recorded his first assist, for Saka, against Wolves last Saturday.

The pair have helped fire the north London side to top spot in the Premier League and Tomiyasu spoke highly of the 22-year-old’s qualities when talkSPORT caught up with him.

“He makes my life easier,” Tomiyasu explained at Arsenal's Community Hub where he spent time coaching young supporters in a series of football drills.

“The assist from the game against Wolves, for me I didn’t do anything. I just gave him the ball then he made it, so yeah he makes my life easier."

But it's a different story on the training ground if he has the unfortunate task of marking him.

“Nightmare!,” Tomiyasu laughed when asked the question before highlighting another tricky forward. “When I play at right full-back, I play against [Gabriel] Martinelli obviously he’s one of the best wingers and he’s one of the most toughest opponents for me."

The 37-cap Japan international also reserved praise for skipper Martin Odegaard and claims the Norwegian’s professionalism make him the perfect candidate for the captaincy.

“He’s so intelligent and he knows what to do on the pitch,” he added.

“He’s so professional and he’s the best example for us. He’s also professional off the pitch. I like him a lot and he deserves to be captain and we love him.”

Hopefully the young fans Tomiyasu was coaching at the Arsenal Community Hub had an easier time than he does on a daily basis having to contend with some of the