Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss ‘the remainder of this season’ after suffering a knee injury against Sporting, the club confirmed on Tuesday.
Tomiyasu joined the Gunners from Bologna in the summer of 2021 but has struggled to stay fit during his time in north London.
The Japanese right-back has been hit with a number of injuries, but when called upon, has performed very well.
William Saliba’s return last summer saw Benjamin White move to right-back, which has resulted in Tomiyasu being limited to game time in cup competitions, or when Oleksandr Zinchenko has been absent.
Despite his lack of starts in the Premier League this term, Tomiyasu’s absence will be a big miss as Arsenal aim to win their first league title since 2004.
The 24-year-old was brought off early on against Sporting during the Gunners’ Europa League defeat last week and it has now been confirmed that the injury is a bad one.
He will not play again this season after undergoing surgery on Tuesday.
A club statement read: ‘Following his substitution during last Thursday’s Europa League match, subsequent assessments have confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu sustained a significant injury to his right knee.
‘Tomi has had successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season.
‘Everyone at the club will now be working hard with Tomi, so he can join pre-season training ahead of next season.’
Arsenal now lack a natural first-team right-back after Cedric Soares joined Fulham on loan in the winter transfer window.
As mentioned prior, White is playing there this season, but is naturally a central defender, though he often played as a right-sided centre-back during his time at Brighton.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is not a natural right-back, but has performed very well there under Mikel Arteta in the past. He was loaned out to Southampton for the season.
Should White pick up an injury, Arsenal could be in a spot of bother.
Saliba is currently out with a back problem, though he will probably return in time for Arsenal’s first Premier League match back after the international break.
Should either be out for a long time, Arteta will have to call upon Rob Holding.
Holding is not the worst centre-back in the league, but he is not on the same level as White or Saliba.
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