Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White differing contracts give clear Arsenal indication of intent(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Arsenal may have already hinted at Takehiro Tomiyasu future decision amid fresh injury fears

Arsenal made a key decision that highlights exactly how the club view Takehiro Tomiyasu future

15 Oct 2024, 10:00 by Tom Canton · football.london

Arsenal are hopeful of seeing several of their key players return to action over the coming weeks after suffering unrivalled issues with their squad. As many as nine first-team members have been out and unavailable for selection either for club or country.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have both suffered from problems over the break but hope that their injury concerns are not too serious. The former could reportedly even make it back for the game with Bournemouth after an optimistic response from England interim boss Lee Carsley.

However, just as the break was coming toward its conclusion, and the players eye a return to the club and domestic action, further news has seeped out. According to TeamTalk, the club are concerned that Takehiro Tomiyasu has suffered a reoccurrence of a knee problem.

While unconfirmed at the moment, this would not be entirely surprising considering the repetitive nature of the issues suffered by the Japanese international. However, what would be frustrating is how quickly this one has reemerged considering how little he featured against Southampton upon his return.

There are signs that Arsenal were already making plans for the future with Tomiyasu’s injury situation in mind. He and Ben White arrived during the same summer of 2021 and signed new contracts only six days apart from one another.

However, while White signed an extension through to 2028 with an option of a further year, this was not the same for Tomiyasu. The former Bologna man signed an effective one-year extension from his previous deal through to 2026 with an option of one more year like his full-back teammate.

This difference despite White (27) being close to two years older than Tomiyasu (25) is a clear sign of how both are viewed in the club’s long term plans. There is no doubt Tomiyasu is an asset when fit.

He is a defensive mastermind at time and has shut down some of the league’s best players such as Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min while also being a versatile figure who can play across the back line. Yet this remains undermined by his consistent disappearance from the team due to injury.

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