Football writer Charles Watts has expressed concern over the fitness of Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of the club’s next match.
An injury kept the Japanese international from featuring for the club during their last Premier League outing – a 0-0 draw against Burnley – and despite the recent break, it doesn’t look as if he will be fit for Thursday’s clash with Wolves.
Indeed, while speaking on his own YouTube channel, Watts explained how the right-back has not been spotted in training of late, and suggested this leaves Tomiyasu as a ‘big doubt’ for the upcoming league fixture.
Is Takehiro Tomiyasu Arsenal's most important defender?
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He said: “I think the big one that we’re all going to be wondering around is Tomiyasu, isn’t it? You know, what is going on with Tomi?
“Not seen any pictures of him in training since they got back from Dubai, it is a little bit worrying. We heard Mikel [Arteta] say after the 0-0 against Burnley just before the break, Mikel saying that Tomi would be out for a few weeks with this calf injury.
“We haven’t seen him in training yet, so you’ve got to think he’s a big, big doubt for this Thursday.”
TIF Thoughts on Takehiro Tomiyasu and Arsenal…
Not a lot of English football fans would have known a great deal about Tomiyasu when he arrived at Arsenal in the summer from Bologna for a fee reported to be in the region of £19.8m.
However, since then, he has gone on to prove himself to be one of the club’s most reliable men. Indeed, in 16 league outings, he has lost just four times – while before he arrived, the Gunners had lost the past three games on the bounce.
No doubt, it’s a positive influence such as that which has Watts – and probably many Arsenal fans – expressing their fear over the current fitness status of the defender. If he is out injured for the Wolves game, and possibly longer, Mikel Arteta’s men may struggle to maintain their best form.
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