Takehiro Tomiyasu, the Arsenal defender, has been on the bench with an injury since March. And unfortunately, he is not in expectation to make a comeback anytime soon. This setback has had a significant impact on Arsenal’s performance, as they were the top team in the country for a significant portion of the season. Despite coping well with the absence of key players like Gabriel Jesus, Emile Smith Rowe, Thomas Partey, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, the simultaneous serious injuries to William Saliba and Tomiyasu on the same day had a detrimental effect on Arsenal’s season. Although there is no update available yet regarding Saliba’s return. The Sun has provided the latest information on Tomiyasu’s potential comeback.
In March, Arsenal faced Sporting Lisbon in the second leg of their Europa League knockout stage match. And this particular fixture had a significant impact on the trajectory of their season. At that point, Mikel Arteta’s team was leading the race for the Premier League title. However, before halftime, both Takehiro Tomiyasu and William Saliba are to leave the field due to injuries.
Later on, it was revealed that Tomiyasu has a severe knee injury. Necessitating surgery and effectively ending his season. Initial reports indicated that he would likely miss the beginning of the upcoming season. However, according to The Sun, there is now a more definitive timeline for his return.
Arsenal and their concerns
Arteta has spoken highly of Tomiyasu, describing him as a “tremendous person.” Unfortunately. It is in expectation that Tomiyasu will be on the bench for the first two months of the new season. This means he will not be able to return to action until at least October 12th of this year.
If either Takehiro Tomiyasu or William Saliba were fit, Arsenal’s campaign would likely have been significantly better. Saliba’s absence is evident due to his abilities as a defender. But even if Tomiyasu had not suffered that serious knee injury, his presence would have been valuable as well. Arsenal could have utilized Tomiyasu at right-back, allowing Ben White to play in his natural position as a center-back instead of Rob Holding, who had a few forgettable games.
Such a defensive setup would have undoubtedly increased Arsenal’s chances of contending for the Premier League title. Unfortunately, the injuries to Tomiyasu and Saliba is has disrupt what could have been a remarkable season for the Gunners.
Considering Tomiyasu’s prolonged absence of four more months, it comes as no surprise that Arsenal is actively seeking a new right-back. The acquisition of a suitable replacement will be intriguing to watch as the club aims to strengthen its defensive options.
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