Arsenal are on cloud nine right now following their victory over Liverpool on Sunday, and there is even more positive news coming out of the club right now.
Whilst Oleksandr Zinchenko was forced off at half time during the win on Sunday, with Mikel Arteta admitting that the 26-year-old was still suffering from a calf problem, Arsenal have been handed a boost as Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to return.
The defender was representing Japan at the Asia Cup, but a shock 2-1 defeat to Iran on Saturday meant his side were eliminated at the quarter-final stage, and he has now returned to Arsenal.
Takehiro Tomiyasu will be available for West Ham trip
Journalist Charles Watts has now revealed that Tomiyasu, who has featured just once for Arsenal since November, will be available for Arteta for Sunday’s trip to West Ham, as it stands.
“If Zinchenko is out for any sort of period of time with this calf injury, the good news is Tomiyasu should be available for the game against West Ham, having now obviously come back from the Asian Cup after Japan were knocked out,” he stated on his YouTube channel.
Should Tomiyasu start against West Ham?
Tomiyasu played the second half as Arsenal lost to Fulham on New Year’s Eve, before departing for the Asia Cup.
He appeared in four of Japan’s five games during the tournament, having initially been eased in, and played 90 minutes in both knockout matches.
Although he featured at centre-back for Japan, he managed to build up his match fitness during the tournament, in a huge boost for Arsenal. This means that he should be ready to step in immediately now he is back.
If Zinchenko is injured, then Tomiyasu is a more natural replacement than Jakub Kiwior on the left, despite his impressive performance against Liverpool in the second half.
Given that Arsenal will be coming up against speedy attackers in Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen, starting Tomiyasu might be the best move for Arteta, and he may consider throwing him straight in, and the defender is expected to confirm his new contract in the coming days.
Arsenal have moved to extend his deal, and turned down offers from Italy in the final days of the transfer window. Despite his injury problems, Tomiyasu is an important player for Arteta, and a tough trip to West Ham is exactly the type of opponent he may be required against to add additional security at the back.
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