Arsenal top four hopes ‘massively dented’ after Tomiyasu reveal – pundit
An injury to Takehiro Tomiyasu will have been the “last thing” Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wanted, according to Noel Whelan.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 23-year-old has been one of the Gunners’ “best and most consistent” players since joining in the summer.
Arteta, as quoted by football.london after Arsenal were held 0-0 by Burnley on Sunday (23 January), said Tomiyasu will miss “a few weeks” after suffering a reoccurrence of a calf injury against Liverpool last Thursday.
He revealed that the Japan international played through injury during the League Cup semi-final loss.
Whelan claimed the right-backs absence will be a “massive blow” to Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
“It’s a massive dent for their top four hopes,” he told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury.
“He’s been one of their best and most consistent players ever since he came in during the summer.
“I very rarely see anyone going past him one-v-one, he’s getting to grips with the pace of the Premier League. We’re starting to see him getting forward that little bit more.
“It’s probably the last thing Mikel Arteta will have wanted. He’ll have wanted to keep that stability in the backline.
“That’s a big blow. He’s tall for a full back, so they’re not just missing his defensive prowess but also his aerial ability when defending and attacking set-pieces.”
Tomiyasu has made 18 appearances in his first season in the Premier League, contributing one assist.
Arsenal will now be forced to call on Cedric or Calum Chambers in the right-back berth.
The Gunners sit two points adrift of fourth-place Man United.
In other news, pundit hails ‘big news for Arsenal’ as Sky reveal £58.8m deal close.