Takehiro Tomiyasu, injuries and what the future holds for a defender trusted by Mikel Arteta
By Art de Roché
Two years ago this month, Takehiro Tomiyasu played a vital role for Arsenal against Liverpool.
In his first start of the 2022-23 season, he lined up at left-back for just the second time in an Arsenalshirt. A natural right-footer, with the ability to play off both feet and across the bac kline, the defender’s task was to keep Mohamed Salahquiet.
The Japan international did just that, using his 6ft 2in (188cm) frame well when Salah went on the outside and intervening well with his stronger right foot when the winger tried to cut inside. Bukayo Sakaand Gabriel Martinelliwere the scorers that day, but Tomiyasu was just as important a figure in a win that generated belief for Arsenal’s first title challenge.
He would have been the perfect replacement after Gabriel and Jurrien Timberwere forced off against Arne Slot’s side this weekend.
Unfortunately for the player, and manager Mikel Arteta, Tomiyasu suffered a setback to the knee injury that kept him out at the start of the season, rendering him unavailable — a theme of his time at Arsenal. He made 20 league starts from 21 appearances, amassing 1,679 minutes, in his debut season (2021-22). He made another 21 league appearances during the following campaign but from six starts (663 minutes). In 2023-24, he managed 10 league starts from 22 appearances, racking up 1,149 minutes.
These absences have been a growing cause for concern among sections of the fanbase, but Arteta has been unwavering in his admiration for the 25-year-old.
“We don’t know that (how long he will be out for),” Arteta said in his pre-Bournemouthpress conference.
“It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period, but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well. But we really need him. He has been incredible, his work rate, and the amount of hours he has put in to get back. He did it and he was in great shape and now he has got something else again. But we are all behind him. He needs our support and, hopefully, he will be fine.”
Frequent unavailability may leave fans wondering if they will see the best of Tomiyasu again, but why not?
There should be no doubt about the defender’s quality. His versatility — outlined by that performance against Salah two seasons ago — is not the only aspect of his game that sets him apart. Arteta is always quick to praise Tomiyasu’s footballing education, during which he passed through Avispa Fukuoka and an FC Barcelona Academy in Japan, Sint-Truiden in Belgium and Bologna in Italy.
“We don’t have a player like him,” Arteta said in a pre-Bournemouth press conference in September 2023. “Defending, (he) is probably the best I’ve seen in many situations. His concepts, his principles, the way he applies them, the way he goes into duels. The way he reads danger and resolves urgent situations with a lot of composure.”
Tomiyasu’s importance in the 2023-24 campaign should not be forgotten. It was a season of injury setbacks, but also one where his importance came to the fore multiple times. As winter approached, he returned from an excellent international break with Japanto help Arsenal take charge of their Champions League group and pick up form in the Premier League, during which he dedicated his first Arsenal goal to his late mother, who passed away during what he explained was his “toughest season”.
When the pressure was on at the end of the campaign, he stepped up, slotting in seamlessly at left-back to help keep Arsenal in the title race until the final day — a day he scored an important equaliser against Everton.
Despite possessing undeniable qualities, his availability being the recurring question mark likely means external concerns will not vanish immediately. Should those become internal, Arsenal have at least navigated themselves into a decent position. The defender joined on a four-year contract in the summer of 2021. That initial deal ran until the end of this season, which made negotiations over new terms necessary last season. Arsenal decided to extend Tomiyasu’s deal by two years until 2026, with the option of another, which gives them a fair amount of flexibility in how they can deal with his future.
They can still benefit from his quality, but could also cash in if they see an opportunity.
Two more years is not the same four-year-with-an-option commitment given to Ben White, who has made 143 Arsenal appearances to Tomiyasu’s 84 since joining in the same summer. Also, considering Tomiyasu has proven himself to be a high-level Premier Leaguedefender, his market value should be higher than the £16million ($20.8m) Arsenal paid for him in 2021.
Despite their injuries in defence, Arsenal’s back line is better equipped than it has been for a while. From a quality perspective, they have at least two players who can fulfil multiple roles to a high standard.
From a numbers point of view, Arteta said that six or seven defenders in the squad were “not enough” in a pre-Sevilla press conference last season. Timber’s return to fitness and the signing of Riccardo Calafioriadded to that at the start of 2024-25, while White’s reshuffle to centre-back against Liverpoolwas a reminder of what made him stand out in his debut season (when Tomiyasu was the first-choice right-back).
It is easy for concern to grow in the heat of a season, especially considering the number of absentees Arsenal have. But as The Athleticexplored in relation to the peaks and dips in the form of Martinelli and Leandro Trossardlast week, there will be times in this long season when Tomiyasu’s value will be felt.
He turns 26 next week and is still an exceptional option for Arteta. In some ways, Tomiyasu is a blueprint for how the Arsenal manager has since used White, Timber and Calafiori at full-back, with emphasis on being physically imposing, technically sound and having a love for defending before anything else.
Tomiyasu should not be written off in the short term, but Arsenal maintaining flexibility over his future could benefit them even more in the long run.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, injuries and what the future holds for a defender trusted by Mikel Arteta
By Art de Roché
Two years ago this month, Takehiro Tomiyasu played a vital role for Arsenal against Liverpool.
In his first start of the 2022-23 season, he lined up at left-back for just the second time in an Arsenalshirt. A natural right-footer, with the ability to play off both feet and across the bac kline, the defender’s task was to keep Mohamed Salahquiet.
The Japan international did just that, using his 6ft 2in (188cm) frame well when Salah went on the outside and intervening well with his stronger right foot when the winger tried to cut inside. Bukayo Sakaand Gabriel Martinelliwere the scorers that day, but Tomiyasu was just as important a figure in a win that generated belief for Arsenal’s first title challenge.
He would have been the perfect replacement after Gabriel and Jurrien Timberwere forced off against Arne Slot’s side this weekend.
Unfortunately for the player, and manager Mikel Arteta, Tomiyasu suffered a setback to the knee injury that kept him out at the start of the season, rendering him unavailable — a theme of his time at Arsenal. He made 20 league starts from 21 appearances, amassing 1,679 minutes, in his debut season (2021-22). He made another 21 league appearances during the following campaign but from six starts (663 minutes). In 2023-24, he managed 10 league starts from 22 appearances, racking up 1,149 minutes.
These absences have been a growing cause for concern among sections of the fanbase, but Arteta has been unwavering in his admiration for the 25-year-old.
“We don’t know that (how long he will be out for),” Arteta said in his pre-Bournemouthpress conference.
“It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period, but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well. But we really need him. He has been incredible, his work rate, and the amount of hours he has put in to get back. He did it and he was in great shape and now he has got something else again. But we are all behind him. He needs our support and, hopefully, he will be fine.”
Frequent unavailability may leave fans wondering if they will see the best of Tomiyasu again, but why not?
There should be no doubt about the defender’s quality. His versatility — outlined by that performance against Salah two seasons ago — is not the only aspect of his game that sets him apart. Arteta is always quick to praise Tomiyasu’s footballing education, during which he passed through Avispa Fukuoka and an FC Barcelona Academy in Japan, Sint-Truiden in Belgium and Bologna in Italy.
“We don’t have a player like him,” Arteta said in a pre-Bournemouth press conference in September 2023. “Defending, (he) is probably the best I’ve seen in many situations. His concepts, his principles, the way he applies them, the way he goes into duels. The way he reads danger and resolves urgent situations with a lot of composure.”
Tomiyasu’s importance in the 2023-24 campaign should not be forgotten. It was a season of injury setbacks, but also one where his importance came to the fore multiple times. As winter approached, he returned from an excellent international break with Japanto help Arsenal take charge of their Champions League group and pick up form in the Premier League, during which he dedicated his first Arsenal goal to his late mother, who passed away during what he explained was his “toughest season”.
When the pressure was on at the end of the campaign, he stepped up, slotting in seamlessly at left-back to help keep Arsenal in the title race until the final day — a day he scored an important equaliser against Everton.
Despite possessing undeniable qualities, his availability being the recurring question mark likely means external concerns will not vanish immediately. Should those become internal, Arsenal have at least navigated themselves into a decent position. The defender joined on a four-year contract in the summer of 2021. That initial deal ran until the end of this season, which made negotiations over new terms necessary last season. Arsenal decided to extend Tomiyasu’s deal by two years until 2026, with the option of another, which gives them a fair amount of flexibility in how they can deal with his future.
They can still benefit from his quality, but could also cash in if they see an opportunity.
Two more years is not the same four-year-with-an-option commitment given to Ben White, who has made 143 Arsenal appearances to Tomiyasu’s 84 since joining in the same summer. Also, considering Tomiyasu has proven himself to be a high-level Premier Leaguedefender, his market value should be higher than the £16million ($20.8m) Arsenal paid for him in 2021.
Despite their injuries in defence, Arsenal’s back line is better equipped than it has been for a while. From a quality perspective, they have at least two players who can fulfil multiple roles to a high standard.
From a numbers point of view, Arteta said that six or seven defenders in the squad were “not enough” in a pre-Sevilla press conference last season. Timber’s return to fitness and the signing of Riccardo Calafioriadded to that at the start of 2024-25, while White’s reshuffle to centre-back against Liverpoolwas a reminder of what made him stand out in his debut season (when Tomiyasu was the first-choice right-back).
It is easy for concern to grow in the heat of a season, especially considering the number of absentees Arsenal have. But as The Athleticexplored in relation to the peaks and dips in the form of Martinelli and Leandro Trossardlast week, there will be times in this long season when Tomiyasu’s value will be felt.
He turns 26 next week and is still an exceptional option for Arteta. In some ways, Tomiyasu is a blueprint for how the Arsenal manager has since used White, Timber and Calafiori at full-back, with emphasis on being physically imposing, technically sound and having a love for defending before anything else.
Tomiyasu should not be written off in the short term, but Arsenal maintaining flexibility over his future could benefit them even more in the long run.
