Arteta has lost a favouriteplaceholder image
Arteta has lost a favourite | Getty Images
Arsenal are set to cancel the contract of a Mikel Arteta favourite.
Arsenal are now set to cancel the contract of a player Mikel Arteta is a big fan of. The Gunners are in the midst of a pivotal summer that could define whether they can go all the way and win the Premier League title, ending a more than two-decade long wait.
Jorginho and Thomas Partey have already left, while there are likely to be many more departures between now and the end of the season. According to Charles Watts, the next through the exit doors will be Takehiro Tomiyasu, and in the form of a mutual contract termination.
The Japan international is tied down until 2026 with the option of an extension, but the two parties have now agreed to end their relationship, according to the report, with an announcement expected soon. Tomiyasu made one appearance for Arsenal last season, in October, missing the rest with a knee issue.
The knee issue required surgery and then further surgery after a setback following that sole appearance. It was a tough time for the 26-year-old, who may well feel he needs new surroundings to get his career back on track. Tomiyasu became a key player for the Gunners after his arrival from Bologna for around £30million in 2021, but injuries have hampered his Gunners career.
Arteta a big fan of Tomiyasu’s
Arteta said of Tomiyasu back in September: “I always said that I’m really confident that the moment Tomi has consistency, he’s going to be a tremendous asset for us. He already is. He can play in any position in the backline, any formation in the backline, we don’t have another player like him. At defending, he’s probably one of the best that I’ve seen in many situations. His concepts, his principles, the way he applies that, the way he goes into duels…now he needs a run of games so that physically he’s at his best.
“If physically, Tomi is at his best, we’re going to have a player that is so important for us. Especially the way he reads danger. The way he resolves urgent situations with a lot of composure in the right way. His skill to defend, the way his body is built, it makes him a really complete player to do that. It’s really difficult to run past him. He’s always alert. It’s the way he’s been raised and educated. He’s always super focused and for a defender that’s a big, big attribute.”
Arteta said of the latest setback: "He’s been trying everything he possibly could to try to avoid [surgery]. We did that as well with the [medical] department," Mikel Arteta told a press conference. At some stage it wasn’t reacting as well as we needed it to, so we decided between all parties that the best thing to do was have surgery again.
"Unfortunately it’s going to keep him out for a long period again and it’s very sad because he is a player who lives for the game. He is really keen to play and be consistent, and when he is at his level he’s an incredible player for us."
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