Agbonlahor issues claim on Takehiro Tomiyasu engineering Arsenal exit after critical reveal
Takehiro Tomiyasu has to remain patient before he gets a chance at Arsenal, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker suggested Tomiyasu’s frustrations will not turn into real discontent yet.
The 23-year-old has played seven times across all competitions this season but is yet to start a Premier League game.
He was absent from the opening day win over Crystal Palace due to injury and Ben White started at right-back instead.
As quoted by the Daily Mail last week (23 September), Tomiyasu admitted he was “not satisfied” at losing his place to the centre-back.
The Japan international vowed to work hard to win back his place but Agbonlahor suggested he will have to wait until Arsenal’s form turns.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “He has been injured and sometimes when you’ve been injured, the manager is not going to put you straight back in.
“Ben White’s done OK at right-back, he’s not been outstanding but he’s not been awful.
“If you’re a manager, if you’re winning games then you’re not going to change anything.
“Maybe it’s a case of when Arsenal go through a run of defeats, he freshens up that defence.
“Tomiyasu then has to put in a good performance.”
Tomiyasu moved to Arsenal from Bologna last summer (2021) and proved an instant success at the Emirates.
He played 21 times in the Premier League last term, including 20 starts, but missed a significant chunk of the season with a calf injury.
In other news, an expert has revealed Tottenham have been handed a major blow ahead of their showdown with Arsenal.