Junichi Inamoto is well aware that the World Cup offers him the best possible stage on which to prove to Arsenal they have been wrong to overlook him as a first-team choice this season.

Last summer Inamoto became the first Japanese player to move to England when he joined the Gunners.

But his appearances in north London have been limited to a handful of Worthington Cup matches and coming on as a late substitute in Champions League games.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is thought to be ready to sell him and Inamoto needs a good World Cup to lure potential suitors.

Depending on what tactics manager Philipe Troussier uses, Inamoto is not always guaranteed a start - Hidetoshi Nakata is obviously the first pick in the centre of midfield.

However, he did his cause no harm with some good displays in last year's successful Asian Cup campaign.