The Arsenal manager emphasises patience to avoid further injury setbacks for the defender.

Mikel Arteta has stressed that Arsenal will adopt a cautious approach with Takehiro Tomiyasu as concerns mount over the possibility of a recurring calf injury. Tomiyasu initially sustained the issue in January but managed to feature in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool. However, since that appearance, the Japanese international has remained sidelined and will also miss the upcoming match against Leicester on Sunday.

Arteta has admitted uncertainty regarding Tomiyasu’s return and is determined not to rush him back into action, fearing further setbacks. “He needs to be consistently training for a period so that we can minimise the risk of having another recurring injury in the same muscle because it would be something to worry about, and we have to stay away from that,” Arteta explained.

He added that Tomiyasu’s quick recovery after his initial calf issue may have contributed to the problem. “He had a calf injury and after that, he had a really quick recovery. We played him, maybe too quick, I don’t know,” the manager said.

Arteta expressed his disappointment, highlighting Tomiyasu’s importance to the team: “He had a recurring injury there and then he felt it again one day when he was back in training with us, so yes, disappointment because he has been really important. He played a lot of minutes, he played quality minutes, and had a good contribution in the team, and unfortunately now we cannot use him.”

In Tomiyasu’s absence, Cedric Soares has stepped in, with Arteta praising his professionalism and performance. “It’s good to have someone like Cedric that when we had to use him, he was ready because he is a great professional and he is performing well for the team,” Arteta concluded.

Arsenal will continue to monitor Tomiyasu’s recovery while taking a measured approach to ensure his long-term fitness.