Takehiro Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna in the summer of 2021.
The Gunners paid £19.8 million to bring Tomiyasu to The Emirates (ESPN), and he was expected to be a big hit at the club.
However, it hasn’t quite worked out that way for the Japan international, and that’s nothing to do with a lack of ability.
On his day, and when he’s fully fit, Tomiyasu is one of the best one v one defenders in the Premier League.
The Japanese ace is a superb tackler, is incredibly strong and possesses impressive recovery pace.
When he has played for the Gunners, he has never let his team down, and is arguably the best actual defender at the club.
However, the 26-year-old has one big problem – his lack of availability.
It seems like he has been out injured more than he’s been available to play over the past three years.
And now Mikel Arteta has to take action.
Arsenal must make gut-wrenching Takehiro Tomiyasu decision
If it is at all possible, the Gunners need to cut their losses on Tomiyasu.
Incredibly, he has missed a whopping 81 games through injury since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2021.
That’s a dire record and one that may well end up costing him his Arsenal career.
Considering the fact that Arsenal are a club who are competing on all fronts, Arteta needs all hands on deck.
And as gutting as it would be for the Arsenal fans to see Tomiyasu leave, selling him would enable Arteta go out and buy someone far more robust.
There are certainly plenty of options out there including the likes of Jorrel Hato and Jeremie Frimpong.
In order for Arteta to take his Arsenal team to the next level, the Spaniard needs to move players like Tomiyasu on.
If he proves his fitness over the course of the next month or so, there will surely be some takers for his signature when the January window opens.
And if Arsenal have the chance to sell Takehiro Tomiyasu for anything like the £19.8 million they paid for him three-and-a-half years ago, they must grasp the opportunity with both hands.
Stats via Transfermarkt.