Since Arsenal lost Tomiyasu to injury just after the New Year, and our other full-back Kieran Tierney, it caused a bit of a crisis to Arsenal’s starting line-up for a while. The worst example being when Arteta made the clear error of playing Granit Xhaka at left back even with Thomas Partey unavailable as well.
Cedric Soares was not trusted by Arsenal fans to fill in for Tomi, and despite some pretty good performances, the Portugese still divides the fanbase and is not considered to be a patch on our young Japanese. But there is now hope on the horizon, with Tomi coming back for a 4 minute cameo at the end of our win over Man United.
Now, according to the Arsenal expert Charlie Watts, we could see the 23 year-old back in the starting line-up at the London Stadium. “Takehiro Tomiyasu came back and got a really good reception against Man United at the weekend,” Watts said on his podcast.
“Fantastic to see him back. Loved that little movement down the right to draw Cristiano Ronaldo in and get Ronaldo a booking as well. It’s brilliant news that he’s back.
“Cedric has done very, very well in his absence, fair play to him but Tomiyasu, if he’s fully fit, plays 100%. He’ll have another week of training this week and I think he starts against West Ham. I’ll be very, very surprised if he doesn’t.
“You have the option of playing him left back. He did that a lot in Italy, he’s very, very two-footed. There is the option there, I know Nuno has been erratic. Potentially Cedric could keep his place but I’m not sure that’ll happen. Tomiyasu, if he’s fully fit, he plays right back on Sunday.”
This could happen of course, but Mikel Arteta is well aware of the dangers of bring our star defender back too soon. Maybe he could play 45 minutes and see how he goes? We certainly don’t want to see him break down again…
It’s an interesting call. Arteta already brought Tomiyasu back too soon and Tomi has missed 4 months. But the 4th CL spot is on the line. If Tomi plays and we win Arteta is a genius. If Tomi plays and we lose Arteta is a condemned. I think they will take the risk and start him.
Against a team like westham tomiyasu’s presence will guarantee a cleansheet and hopefully a win,so excited he is back cos he will at least be available for the NLD.bring on the spuds!!!
Cedric has done quite well in Tomi’s absence, but if Arsenal are looking for a long term back up now then they could do no worse that EPL Div2 player of the season Forest Green Rovers attacking right back/wing back 22 year old Kane Wilson who’s available on a free transfer this summer.
We should continue to give Tomi a gentle introduction.
He should only come on at half time for Taverns or Cedric if either having a bad game
At halftime? By which time much damage could have already been done. Not a wise opinion IMO! Tomiyasy will have had anextra week and would not have played thefour minutes he did, if not already fit last weekend!
If you are too timid and wait too long much damage will be done while you choose to wait. Rethink it , is my advice to you. Tavares is alarmingly weak at LB, in case you have failed to notice.
Jon am in agreement with you, it’s just that with five games left and his recent injury record am a little nervous of rushing him.
But if he was fit enough to get five minutes a week earlier, who am I to question his fitness, will support the gaffer on this call
Sometimes I wish I could clone Tomi and Tavares. It’ll produce a left back very adept at defending and extremely dangerous at attacking.