Arsenal’s injury concerns have permeated through the whole season so far, causing plenty of disruption to Mikel Arteta and his team.
The early loss of Martin Odegaard was only firmed up by the subsequent injury issues suffered by Ben White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and most recently Gabriel Martinelli.
It has made it tough for Mikel Arteta to get his best team out on the pitch, let alone have space to rotate the side as he may wish.
With Arsenal suffering from so many problems, there is some hope that the next month will pave the way for plenty of returns in the squad.
That’s not to say there won’t be long-term absences though, not least with Gabriel Jesus’ ACL injury and an ongoing problem for Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Takehiro Tomiyasu could face another surgery for Arsenal injury
When Arsenal made the move to sign Takehiro Tomiyasu, it was understated just how impressive he would be in the defensive phases.
The Japanese international was solid at the back, denying any chance of the opposition getting an opportunity, while his versatility allowed him to play at right-back and centre-back if required.
Tomiyasu has been plagued by injuries at the Emirates Stadium though, with his absences growing longer each season.
The 26-year-old has played just six minutes in the Premier League this season, having previously recovered from a knee injury in October, only to suffer another issue.
While there was some hope of a return, given the fact Tomiyasu was spotted at London Colney, he still seems some way from featuring again.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are now assessing the possibility of sending the defender away for surgery to deal with the long-standing knee issues.
It would be the second surgery he has undergone, having previously had a procedure in 2023 for his knee.
The report states that any surgery this time around would cause a significant layoff, which brings his future into question.
With 18 months left on his contract, it’s unclear whether the defender has a long-term future at the club, but his latest injury could stop an exit over the summer.
Takehiro Tomiyasu injury update comes as another blow
Injuries are an unfortunate part of football that is becoming increasingly problematic for sides as the fixture schedule becomes even more congested.
Arsenal aren’t alone in that respect, but the update on Tomiyasu comes as yet another blow they have had to face.
The defender is excellent on the pitch but the loss off of it is just as big, given the standards he has helped set.
Mikel Arteta explained as much in 2023 when he said: “Tomi [Tomiyasu] is a player that everybody loves in there.
“He’s always the first [in training] and he’s always the last out. You tell him to do something and he will give his life for it.
“He’s an exceptionally professional player who gives us versatility and qualities that nobody else has in the squad. For me, he’s a really important player.”
Not having a player as important as that on the pitch is always going to be a blow, but it has been an increasingly big problem for the manager.
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