Arsenal star expresses his sadness as Mikel Arteta confirms injury blow

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Arsenal have been dealt a major blow as it has emerged that defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to miss the next few games with injury.

Tomiyasu was withdrawn during Arsenal’s victory over Wolves, and a late decision was made over his participation against Luton yesterday, as he was not included in the squad.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta confirmed that the defender would be out “for a while” after having scans on his calf, in what is a big blow for Tomiyasu as he was in fantastic form.

Tomiyasu expresses sadness after Arsenal injury blow

The 25-year-old took to Instagram to express his disappointment at his latest injury, which also leaves Arsenal desperately short of depth in the back line.

“I’m sick of being an injured but I believe this is the opportunity to be much stronger,” he posted.

Tomiyasu has started just 33% of Arsenal’s games this season, but was in perhaps the best form of his Arsenal career, delivering outstanding performances against RC Lens and Wolves in recent weeks.

This will come as a frustration to Arteta, who is reportedly managing his squad’s training intensity carefully as the club fear injuries during the busy Christmas schedule.

Tomiyasu’s poor injury record

The Japan international has been incredibly unlucky with injuries in all three of his campaigns since joining in 2021.

Tomiyasu missed a vital part of the run-in in his first season, which saw Arsenal slip out of the top four in the final three games of the season.

He also picked up a season-ending injury at the same time as William Saliba last season, which ultimately saw Arsenal’s title challenge completely collapse.

With tough games against Aston Villa and Liverpool coming up, Tomiyasu was in line to start at left-back as a more defensive option than Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Arteta is now short of options in defence.

The main back four of Ben White, Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Zinchenko are all fit, but the only alternative option now is Jakub Kiwior, who started at left-back yesterday.

Thomas Partey started the season at right-back, but he is also injured, as is summer signing Jurrien Timber.

Outcast Cedric Soares, and academy star Reuell Walters were both in the squad for yesterday’s victory over Luton, and they may now need to step in for Arsenal’s Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven next week, with the Gunners already qualified for the knockout stages.