"I can show my strength when I play in a match."
A promising talent ready to show his true abilities.MF 48 Yuta ARAI
Special content introducing the all-blue-red warriors who will challenge the 2024 season. What are the players, who are facing the opening, thinking and what kind of determination are they approaching the year with? The players' stories, filled with club love, thirst for titles, aspirations for success, and the roles they must fulfill──. Yuta ARAI, who officially joined Tokyo in the 2023 season. He also accompanied the team during his time at Shouhei High School, and showed his ambitious attacking skills, but he did not get the playing time he wanted last season. However, he is facing the situation that may be considered a "second year jinx" and is starting to gain momentum by responding to the coach's demands.
Looking back at Yuta ARAI in the 2023 season, the word "sophomore jinx" comes to mind. In the 2022 season, when he was a third-year student at Shouhei High School, he played in official matches as a JFA/J.League special designated player. With his aggressive dribbling and powerful shots, he brought momentum to Tokyo with fearless play. However, in his second season as a professional player, after playing in the third and fourth matches of the season, he was no longer involved in the league matches. Although he is a rookie, it is his second season playing for the top team. After facing the adult world fearlessly in the 2022 season, it was clear that it was no longer enough.
However, they are overcoming this difficult situation on their own. In the 2024 season, after going through camps in Okinawa and Miyazaki, they have started to be seen as potential members of the main team through their training.
"Last season was a really tough season, but towards the end of the season, I felt like 'I can do this' during practice and gained confidence. Looking back on my usual practice and watching the movements of players in the same position, my range of play expanded. I also understood the type of soccer Peter wanted to play, and it was a good feeling."
Mentally strategic plays that consider the relationship with players on the same side while understanding the situation of teammates are pushing the evolution forward. This has led to the desire to stay here for another year and achieve results, without choosing options such as "warrior training".
"The current style of soccer is to constantly move forward. We are conscious of actively breaking through the defense and I believe I can show my strength when I play in a match."
What Peter CKLAMOVSKI, the coach, is looking for is clear. For Arai, it's about making runs into the center during crosses and working hard. With clear standards, the daily rankings change based on how well they respond. It's a constant challenge, but also a great opportunity.
"I am not the fastest runner, so I tend to overthink things, but I believe my performance will improve even more if I can relax. I stayed here to grow and achieve results. I want to value my daily training and continue to make an impression."
The unfinished prodigy is strong and quickly regaining confidence. The true abilities of the lefty monster will be shown from now on.
text by Katsu Goto (Freelance Writer)
