Arteta Confirms Defender Set for a Spell on the Sidelines
Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu is out for ‘a few weeks’ after aggravating his calf injury playing in our semi-final on Thursday.
Tomiyasu was clearly off the pace, giving the ball away, slipping over and generally not being his usual reliable self. He was then left out of the squad for our dour 0-0 bore draw with Burnley at The Emirates on Sunday. Ben White deputised at right-back with Rob Holding common into the middle, both of which worked well as we kept another clean sheet.
Arteta confirmed:
“Tomi had an injury and we didn’t have anybody to play in that position against Liverpool. He needs to recover and look after himself, to try and be available as quick as he can. He will be out for a few weeks…”
Arteta is set to take his squad to a warm-weather training camp in Dubai during our lengthy, almost three-week break. It’s not clear if Tomiyasu will tag along, nor whether Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be attending following his dramatic return from the AFCON.
Luckily we don’t play now until the 10th of February with a tricky away tie at Wolves, so fingers crossed for a swift recovery for Tomiyasu.