Takehiro Tomiyasu, the injured defender for Arsenal, has been advised to be “patient” as he gets ready to miss a few weeks due to a knee issue by manager Mikel Arteta.
The former Bologna player has struggled with his fitness throughout his three years at the Emirates, but since joining in 2021, he has shown Arteta why he is valuable when healthy.
Tomiyasu swiftly won over supporters in North London with his defensive prowess, versatility, and attitude. During the 2023–24 season, he was frequently Arteta’s first-choice left-back.
The knee injury that has kept the Japan international out of action during preseason, however, also prevented him from playing in Sunday’s 2-0 Emirates Cup victory over Lyon.
After the competition, Arteta spoke to the media but was unable to provide any encouraging news regarding Tomiyasu’s health, acknowledging that the 25-year-old is unlikely to return for a few weeks.
Indeed, I believe that one will require weeks to complete. I believe it will take a few weeks, so he will need to exercise patience and work through it,” Arteta stated.
Along with Jurrien Timber, who missed the majority of the 2023–24 season recovering from a devastating ACL injury, Tomiyasu was one of two versatile defenders who did not play against Lyon.
Since then, the Dutchman has developed a minor foot issue that is thought to be connected to his ongoing recuperation process. Despite this setback, Arteta remains optimistic that Timber will be ready for the Premier League season’s opening weekend.
It’s alright. It’s evident now that he has been working on his own. Since he is not reacting, we anticipate that he will be prepared to train with the group in the upcoming week. So very encouraging,” the Gunners manager continued.
Riccardo Calafiori made his Arsenal debut on Sunday, coming off the bench just past the hour mark to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, thanks to the injuries to Timber and Tomiyasu.
Calafiori, who moved to a central position in the closing minutes of the game, was warmly welcomed by the Emirates supporters. In his first half-hour wearing a Gunners shirt, he was aggressive and front-footed, coming in a few times to regain possession.
The way that the fans reacted to Calafiori’s introduction was overwhelming, and Arteta thinks that this kind of fan devotion would be very helpful in persuading other players to sign with the team.
“I adore it so much. It’s wonderful when our supporters respond to one of our own in that way. You can tell right away that it’s love, that he’s respected, and that they’re standing by you. That’s an amazing opportunity for a lot of players to join our team, Arteta remarked.
“His ability to play two or three positions and, particularly in attack, his ability to occupy multiple spaces as a true defender gives him a great deal of versatility. He is amazing when you witness his physicality, demeanor, and approach to a duel. He accomplished a lot last year, of course, and I believe he’s a player who can help us.”
After winning the Emirates Cup, Arsenal will have five days to rest before hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers in North London for the 2024–25 Premier League season.
