Ian Wright tells Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol to give an ‘apology as loud as the disrespect’ after video resurfaces of him laughing while claiming Arsenal new boy Takehiro Tomiyasu, who’s ‘not really a right-back’, had been snubbed by other clubs
- Ian Wright has called for Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol to apologise
- Wright posted a video on Twitter of Sky discussing Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu
- The clip from last summer shows Solhekol smirking as he discusses the defender
- The Gunners summer signing has largely impressed on the right side of defence
- Solhekol claimed that an agent told him Tomiyasu was ‘not really a right-back’
- He also suggested that many clubs had rejected the chance to sign the defender
Ian Wright has called for Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol to apologise after posting a video of him smirking while discussing Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The Gunners signed versatile defender Tomiyasu, 23, from Bologna last summer for around £16million, with the Japan international having played as both a full-back and a centre-back for the Serie A side.
Solhekol spoke about Arsenal’s move Tomiyasu shortly before it was completed, passing on a series of claims which were allegedly made by an agent involved in trying to get him a move to a Premier League club.
Ian Wright (above) has called for Kaveh Solhekol to apologise after a video resurfaced of the Sky man smirking while discussing Arsenal’s summer signing Takehiro Tomiyasu
Wright posted a clip of the Sky Sports News presenter discussing the Japan international
In the clip, the Sky reporter says that he’s been told that Tomiyasu isn’t ‘really a right-back’ and that he had been offered to most top-flight clubs before the Gunners agreed a deal to sign him.
But after another solid display from the defender against Leeds on Saturday, Wright posted the clip of Solhekol to Twitter and wrote: ‘Apologies as loud as the disrespect please!!!!! @SkyKaveh,’ tagging the presenter’s official account.
Wright’s tweet, which went out to his 2million followers, has since been retweeted more than 5,000 times and liked by other 35,000 users.
In the clip, which was filmed during the summer transfer window, Solhekol says: ‘You know we were talking about the right back Arsenal have signed, Tomiyasu, and I mentioned agents involved in the deal had contacted me to say “Are any Premier League clubs looking for a right back?”
Tomiyasu (right) has performed well in an Arsenal shirt and has cemented the right-back slot
Wright had his say after Tomiyasu put in another solid display against Leeds on Saturday
‘I’ve just got a message to say: Tomiyasu was offered to most clubs in the Premier League. He’s a good player but the problem is he’s not really a right back, nor is he a central defender. I’m not sure how he will get on at Arsenal.
‘That is one of the agents who was trying to find him a club. We’re just confirming the information we have… people were trying to place him at a Premier League club, and he’s got a move to Arsenal.’
During the video, Solhekol, presenting alongside Dharmesh Sheth and Pete Graves, appears to be smirking throughout, which clearly frustrated Wright given the way Tomiyasu has performed since his move.
Solhekol has been a senior reporter for Sky for a number of years, and is heavily involved in Sky Sports News’ coverage of transfer deals. He previously worked for The Times as a journalist.
Tomiyasu has consistently performed well for Mikel Arteta’s side at right-back – despite Solhekol’s claims – and he is now part of a settled backline alongside Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney, who are all 24.
With Hector Bellerin now out on loan at Real Betis, Cedric Soares 30 years old and Calum Chambers seemingly out of favour, the Japan star look set to be first choice for the foreseeable future at the Emirates.
