Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone knee surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Tomiyasu could even be sidelined for the start of the next campaign. The 26-year-old has been out of action since October and has now opted for surgery to address the ongoing issue.
This marks the second time Tomiyasu has required knee surgery since joining Arsenal from Bologna in 2021. He initially suffered the injury during pre-season, managing only a six-minute appearance against Southampton in October before a relapse forced him back to the sidelines.
Manager Mikel Arteta had expressed optimism last month about Tomiyasu’s potential return before the season’s end, but complications ultimately led to the decision to proceed with surgery.
The Japanese international (with 42 caps) confirmed the news via Instagram. “I’ve had surgery on my knee a few days ago and have already started my rehab to do what I love the most again,” he wrote.
“It has been the toughest period in my career for sure, and it carries on a bit more, but I won’t give up. Thank you for your support, and see you again.”
Tomiyasu’s latest setback adds to Arsenal’s growing injury woes, with Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Reiss Nelson (currently on loan at Fulham) also recently undergoing surgery. Meanwhile, Ben White and Bukayo Saka have both suffered injuries that sidelined them for over three months.
Arsenal secured Tomiyasu’s signing from Bologna for £20 million, beating arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur to his signature. He quickly established himself as a dependable figure in Mikel Arteta’s defense.
However, injuries have severely disrupted his time in North London. Since suffering his first major setback—a calf injury in his debut season—Tomiyasu has missed 82 games for club and country.
Even after recovering, he may need a loan move to regain match fitness, given Arsenal’s depth at full-back. The club will then face a decision on whether to keep him as a backup option or move him on permanently.
Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have already been told why Martin Zubimendi transfer must be completed
Arsenal’s hopes of signing Martin Zubimendi this summer continue to rise, with the club in a strong position to secure the highly-rated midfielder. The Spaniard is seen as the ideal addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad, particularly with Thomas Partey and Jorginho’s contracts set to expire at the end of the season.
While Zubimendi has been identified as the perfect replacement, opinions on him remain divided. Naturally, when a player is linked with a top club, fans analyze clips and statistics to gauge their potential impact. Numerically, he compares well to Partey, but some remain unconvinced about his fit for Arsenal.
The Real Sociedad star has drawn interest from multiple clubs, including Liverpool, who attempted to sign him last summer. However, he opted to stay with his boyhood club, showing deep loyalty to La Real.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente’s decision to bring Zubimendi on in the Euro 2024 final against England, following Rodri’s injury, speaks volumes. After the match, De la Fuente praised Zubimendi, stating that replacing the best player in the team with someone just a step below him was a blessing.
“Zubimendi has been playing [brilliant] games for a long time; if Rodri is the best player, then Zubimendi is the second best in this position,” De la Fuente said. “He’s got experience under his belt, he oozes security through every pore of his skin.
“Martin doesn’t get nervous… he’s a very mature player, so calm… Zubi is a sure bet, who never fails.”
Zubimendi could also benefit from a potential reunion with former teammate Mikel Merino. Spanish football expert and journalist Graham Hunter highlighted their connection while speaking to The Highbury Squad.
“In the case of Mikel and Martin, they are friends. They are friendly, they are close, so will he be asking his ex-teammate lots of information? Without question.
“I’ve interviewed the two of them together, I’ve seen them interacting together, slight age difference but not that much. Similar aspects, and ideas, Merino is slightly more outgoing if you look at what he’s done with his life, where he’s been willing to experiment.
“And because he had goals, things that shimmer are usually attractive to jackdaws, and people have taken longer to see Zubimendi’s qualities.”
Ultimately, whether this move proves to be the right one will only become clear if it happens. Until then, speculation continues, but those familiar with Zubimendi speak highly of his abilities.
