Arsenal have been handed a double injury blow, as Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both set for lengthy absences.
Tomiyasu has made just one appearance this season after picking up an injury in pre-season, and he has not featured in nearly two months after his cameo against Southampton resulted in another issue.
This has meant that White has played through injury to cover for other absences, with Jurrien Timber, William Saliba and Riccardo Calafiori all missing games at some point this season.
Mikel Arteta revealed that White underwent surgery which will now keep him out for “months,” but Tomiyasu will also not be available to cover during his absence, and Arsenal fans have taken to X to express their frustration.
Arsenal fans criticise Takehiro Tomiyasu contract decision after latest injury
Tomiyasu signed a new contract in March 2024, but has hardly featured since, and fans are now questioning Arteta’s decision to rely on him again given his constant injury issues.
“On an individual level I find myself having incredible sympathy for what Tomiyasu is going through- he’s not choosing to be injured. But on a club level I find it incredibly frustrating to have not had a directive that for as good of a person he is the body can’t keep up,” one fan posted.
“Giving Tomiyasu a new contract is looking spooky….. everyone one saw this coming btw it made zero sense giving someone so injury prone a new contract I get wanting to protect value but he’s just a squad filler rn,” another pointed out.
“Can anyone actually justify why the club decided to extend Tomiyasu’s contract?” Another fumed.
Some fans were more sympathetic, pointing out how frustrated Tomiyasu must be after his constant issues.
“This is really gutting for him. I’ll admit I’ve found his availability super frustrating myself but I’m sure he wants to be playing more than anyone,” a fan pointed out.
“Sometime I want Tomiyasu to be fit for at least 4-5 solid seasons. Like Monreal. Guess it’s cursed,” a fan posted.
Was Takehiro Tomiyasu’s Arsenal contract a mistake?
Arsenal were aware of Tomiyasu’s injuries when they extended his deal in March, but they did only offer him an 18-month contract.
This clearly indicated that they were unwilling to commit to longer terms until he could prove his long-term fitness, and he has hardly played since signing fresh terms.
Tomiyasu has missed 61 games through injury since his arrival in 2021, and questions will now be raised over his future, given that Arteta cannot rely on him even as cover for White.
The Japan international is a strong performer when fit, and his form at the time of the extension was superb, but he is now reaching a point where Arsenal will have to move on from him even as a squad player.
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