Tomiyasu injured

Arteta hints that Arsenal could be missing two key players ahead of Man United clash

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

It looks like Arsenal might have a couple of players missing their upcoming match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Mikel Arteta mentioned in his press conference that there are some doubts surrounding the availability of Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu for the upcoming game due to injury concerns. However, he did not provide any specific details about the nature of the injuries.

Bukayo Saka
Saka has been absolutely fantastic. The Arsenal No. 7 has had an impressive season, with 20 goals and 14 assists. It’s clear that he has played a crucial role for Arsenal this year. Arsenal can still function without him, but they’re definitely better off with him in the starting 11.

If he were to miss the clash with United, it would be a significant loss. However, the Gooners can find comfort in the fact that the team won both league matches that the Englishman didn’t play in this season. The Gunners managed to secure victories against Manchester City and Luton with scores of 1-0 and 2-0, respectively, even without Saka.

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Compared to Saka, Tomiyasu has already missed a large number of games due to injuries, which some may argue have had less impact on the team. However, over the last few weeks, he has managed to secure a position at left back and has started in 4 out of the last 5 Arsenal games (across all competitions).

He has been Mikel Arteta’s go-to player during the PL Run-In, and it would be a significant blow if he’s sidelined with an injury. However, Kiwior, who stepped up after the winter break, has proven himself as a worthy replacement, and of course Zinchenko is also a possibility.

“A few doubts over the names [Saka and Tomiyasu] that you discussed, yes,” Arteta said, referring to the two. “We can resolve this with another training session. So we’ll have to see.”

Thanks to Arsenal’s expanded squad we luckily have quality backups for these two, and I would fully expect Gabriel Jesus to be the one to replace Saka on the wing, and the replacement for Tomiyasu probably depends on how Arteta wants to set out his tactics against Man United.

But we should be unduly weakened if these two go missing should we?

Sam P


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Tags Saka Takehiro Tomiyasu

25 Comments

  1. If Saka is unfit, I’d like to see Vieira or Cozier-Duberry for the inverted-RW role

    Jesus could replace one of them in the second half as a conventional RW, to whip crosses from the byline if we can’t score against the Red Devils in the first half

    1. I think that is too risky at this stage, with 2 matches left and everything to play for

      1. It’d be riskier to play with a conventional RW like Jesus, Trossard, Martinelli or Nelson on our right wing, because they won’t be able to interchange their position easily with Odegaard

    2. Since this is a preseason game against a League 2 side and we dropping points cos of silly tinkering doesn’t have any effect on the title run-in right ?

      Cozier who has not played any PL match should start against Man Utd

      You definitely play plenty Football Manager

      1. …tells you everything everything about some guys here! Unfortunately, I’m not surprised.

    3. @Gai Using Viera and Cozier could be a very risky option against ManU. Viera not in that kind of form he hasn’t played for a while and Cozier still lacking experience in a game of such magnitude. Jesus can play there or also swap position with Trossard.
      Sska is a strong Boy I think he will play. Arteta is usually diplomatic about his players info to confuse the opponent.

      1. I also hope the announcement was just Arteta’s strategy to catch Man United off-guard

  2. As a matter of fact and reasoning, the Gunners starting XI line up away to Man Utd on Sunday. Will look weakened at the right wing position if Bukayo Saka can’t start the match or come off the bench for it.
    This is because apart of his being a regular goals scoring and assists provider contributor to the Arsenal’s points gathering tally in the Epl this term. But Reiss Nelson who is supposed to cover for Saka when he’s absent in the team. Has proved numerous times to be a step down in top quality game playing at the right wing whenever he was played. So against the Red Devils tomorrow, I can’t see Arteta staring Nelson for the match who will be a passenger In the match for Arsenal if he start him.
    However, if Gabriel Jesus start the match at the right wing, it could work. Work in terms of his being an out and out workerholic player for Arsenal in matches. But who seldom score goals but make rooms and provide assists for others to score. So, Trossard and Havertz including others in the team should be ready to pounce and hammer in goals for Arsenal in the match. When GJesus make rooms and provide assists for them to score.
    Finally, I think Arteta will start one of Zinchenko or Kiwior at left full back for the match. But if Tomiyansu is unavailable for it
    And Arsenal will win the match undoubtedly.

  3. Viera, evan being considered. What are you the guys drinking? I’m in a foul mood as City score their third goal in cruise control. This Fulham side is crap. How could we let the likes of Robinson and William run rings around us when they beat us. It shows that we rely too much on our so called inverted wing backs who let’s face it will never take us to a title. Still it’s down to Tottenham and mighty West Ham now.

  4. 4-0 to City. I honestly thought Man City would slip up today. Goal difference down to 2 goals.
    I would not be surprised if we drop points tomorrow.
    Well, it has been a good ride this season.

    1. Keep your chin up IGL

      More will be revealed at around 18.45 tomorrow.

      I know I’m writing this during the first half but when Spurs went one nil down my heart sank. We need Spurs to have a good game so that their confidence gets a boost in time for Tuesday. A goal back is a positive with WH down at home to Luton

      1. For SueP
        Trying to.
        We have to win tomorrow and hope Spurs win today and have something to play for against Man City assuming Aston Villa loose to Liverpool on Monday.

  5. City will be nervous against Spurs their record there is awful. We need to do a City and ignore the noise and just concentrate on winning at Old Trafford. If we do win believe me they will be nervous because they will have to beat Spurs. Not over yet goal difference could still be key!!

  6. Saka will play, he always does, and will not miss this one so close to the end

    while Saka always manages to recover, Tomy is the opposite and seems to have a touch of the Partey perpetually injured syndrome, and the innocuous muscle type injuries from seemingly nothing, a real worry that just as he gets going he picks another niggle, just hope it’s Kiwior or Timber and not Zinc! either way Man U will target our LB

  7. Spurs have done their bit and beaten Burnley. If Liverpool can manage to win against Villa on Monday, Spurs will still be in with a chance of Champions League qualification and will play to win against City on Tuesday.

  8. Why not try Jesus as striker and play Havertz in midfield?

    Then you could play our best DM as a RB.

    Then break up the best CB partnership in the League and play White as a CB.

    Seriously though, Kiwior or Timber at LB, we will be in trouble if Zinchenko starts at LB.

    Jesus on RW, or Trossard and Saka on the wings.

    Vieira or Nelson is a big risk when better players are available.

    I would rather see ESR before Vieira or Nelsono e honest. At least ESR could have an impact.

      1. Yes, just playfully mocking that ridiculous and unbalanced abomination of a selection setup.

  9. Firswe need to win tomorrow then worry about the other results personally still think City will win the league but while there is still a chance just have to win the 2 remaining games and hope for a miracle!

  10. We have the players to smash manure!

    Go out and play our game, leave the rest of the worries to everyone else!

    COYG

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