Takehiro Tomiyasu is edging closer to full fitness with Arsenal sharing a video of the player in training ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brentford.
The Japan international has been struggling with a persistent calf problem since December and missed four out of five games in the build-up to his last appearance against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg on 20 January.
Tomi looked out of sorts that evening as Arsenal were downed 2-0 and he subsequently missed two World Cup qualifiers for his country and the Gunners’ warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
Mikel Arteta had hinted that his summer signing might be available for last Thursday’s trip to Wolves but in the end, the defender wasn’t included in the squad. In his absence, Cedric had a decent game.
While Tomi is clearly on the mend, the fact he’s training alone in the video suggests he might need a little longer to get up to full speed. No doubt the boss will be asked for an update when he faces the media on Friday.
Glad he is well on the mend 👍
Oh he is. I just watched a training video on YouTube and the way he was able to glide past cones, almost without them noticing, was breathtaking. And when his trainer shouted “overlap, overlap” he ran right down that touchline, nearly on the white paint, but just on the inside of it so he was still on the pitch.
If he can recreate that at the weekend then we just might witness another headline-grabbing performance from big Tom.
As much as I was pleasantly surprised by Cedric’s last performance, this would be a welcome return. Let’s not rush it though, our next games shouldn’t be the hardest. But glad to hear it’s heading the right way.
… unless he wants to participate in our next post-Wolves celebration, of course.
I hope we get a nice 3-0 win against Wolves. And then celebrate harder than we did last time
I’ve never understood people who take issue with players celebrating a win.
I understand what you mean but isn’t our next game against a team that defeated us? No complacency please.
Well of course you’re right, we have to be careful about every game, and I hope we won’t take any of them lightly. But still, I’d prefer missing him at home against Brentford, who have lost 4 of their last 5 games, than rushing him back and risk missing him for another few weeks.
lost 4 of 5 is poor form, especially considering they hadn’t lost a premier league match for over 7 years leading into our last match against them
Actually they were unbeaten ever in the premier league. Great stat
Caution, respect where it’s due and all that jazz, but frankly mate, if we can’t beat fucking Brentford at home then we really don’t deserve Premiership football, never mind top four.
Yeh well Ced, for all of his much underpar performances for us he had his best game Wolves, Miki obviously sees a player in him so why not start him, maybe wrong on this but his 1st start with Gab/Ben/Keiran? Of course like to see Tomi back fully fit but would also like Cedric in contention for his position
People say he’s underrated but I’m very happy to see that’s not at all the case. Maybe understated might be more apt but even that may change if he keeps up his pre-covid/injury progression! Over the years of experience with some of our more mercurial players, there’s nothing I’ve come to appreciate as much as reliability and consistency. Tomiyasu has come in like Monreal before him (and Sagna and Gilberto Silva before them) and just raised the level of consistency and competency of those around simoly by exuding it himself. He’s as vital a presence in that back 5 as… Read more »
Agree with you on the whole but for me Sagna/Gilberto/Tomi > Monreal
Agree he was a solid pro and I had a lot of love for the guy because of that but I think he lacked that quality to raise the level we needed at the time. To me we’ve only finally replaced Cashley’s quality with KT.
I agree about the 3 being at a higher level than Monreal.
I disagree about KT being at Cole’s level. It’s not even close. Cole was one of the best full backs I’ve ever seen
He’s totally underrated because of his quality, competency and level of consistency without generating any fanfare or hype or even external recognition. He’s kind of like Koscienly in that regard. It took him years to be properly appreciated as a truly world class defender because he was quiet and unassuming and didn’t make a fuss. It was a sad end for Kozzer (a favourite of mine and our best defender since Sol Campbell IMO), but it’s only the beginning for Spike Spiegel!
Koscielny was a light weight flake of a player, he was so far removed from being world class.
There was a season or two when he played alongside Mertesacker and looked half decent and that was because Mertesacker covered his many weaknesses. He looked dreadful alongside every other partner he had, and played in so many thrashings it’s embarrassing.
The regard Koscielny is held by some Arsenal fan’s is something I find truly bewildering.
Kos also covered merts weaknesses, mertesackers pace was bad but kos would cover him. Kinda like all good cb pairings. Yeah koscielny ended his career with us badly but he was a beast at times
Couldn’t disagree more. Kos was world class at a time when Arsenal was in decline and if it wasn’t for a very serious injury there’s no reason to believe he would not have kept his place as a starter for the French national team that went on to win the world cup. There is a reason that Real Madrid and others were interested in taking him from us. Though I wouldn’t compare Tomi to Kos yet, he has come in and cemented his place in the first 11 immediately, something that took Kos and Monreal some time to do. What’s… Read more »
It’s weird how differently we can see some of our ex-player’s career at Arsenal
I don’t think you will find many supporters agreeing with you. He was a world class centre half and formed a great partnership with Mertesacker who was also not as error prone as you seem to make him. He was a giant throughout his Arsenal career and it’s your rubbishing of him I find bewildering. It was sad the way it all ended.
I’ve said it here before, everybody disagreed, and I said it again and again. I agree with you 100% about Koscielny. He had a really good season when his pace bailed him out and he made many last ditch/desperate tackles.
That’s not enough to be considered world class for me
For once, I agree with you. I liked Kos, but if I had a pound for every time he ended up flat on his arse looking like a bemused Stan Laurel as the opponents wheeled away in celebration, I’d have to think about retiring early. Our post Invincibles defence may have got us top four each year and some much needed FA Cup Final victories (even then, we had to pull out all the stops to beat Hull in 2013/14) but we only ever looked like cracking the Premiership nut in 2015/16 – and our defence cost us that title… Read more »
I was in the stadium for Bayern vs Arsenal 5-1 – it was 1-1 until kosc got subbed off bc of injury in the 70′ minute
the other game it was also 1-1 or 2-1 for bayern i believe when he got a red and we also lost 5-1
he was class no doubt
Harsh words John but overall I agree. Koscielny was a talented defender but he was very much capable of glaring errors at critical moments. This is something we’ve (rightly) criticised Xhaka, Luiz and Mustafi for but not Kos. The errors against Birmingham City and Atletico come to mind. Likewise, the debut red card against Liverpool and the red against Bayern. Then they are the penalties he conceded that were Mustafi-esque in nature. His legacy is probably viewed a bit better than it should be because he was a long-serving starter that actually stayed in his prime. We didn’t have many… Read more »
That he very likely would have started for the eventual WC champions were it not for injury dilutes your argument somewhat
Good.
That picture. Where the hell did we send him to train alone?
Was wondering who was making a racket in my back garden…
Guerilla tennis players?
Great news. We have a very, very strong defense. It’s solid without him but it’s excellent with him. A top candidate for player/signing of the season so far.
Early days yet for Tomi, but how can one not like this player! Massive potential, love his attitude.
I still have a soft spot for Sagna; pace, great on the ball, incredibly reliable defender. Guy was indestructable. (I remember some gorilla put an in-the-air sort of push on him, and Sagna landed basically on his neck. Everyone gasped; I thought holy cow, he’s broke his effing neck! But he got up, shook it off, right back in the game.) Crossing a bit meh, but was a different team/era.
I think the big difference between Tomiyasu and Cedric is defending. Cedric never plays as if he were a third centre half, and Tomiyasu often helps Ben White in the penalty area–which is probably exactly what we will need against Ivan Toney.
… And more besides, like cutting off crosses and deterring attackers from running at him, first time passes to facilitate the early phase of our attack; all the attributes associated with a GOOD full-back, that we’ve become so accustomed to not expecting.
Cedric deputised well against Wolves.
If there is any possibility of a relapse, he should be rested.
Partey at Spurs last season, should still be fresh on Arteta’s mind.
Hell yeah happy to see you warrior Tomiyasu, we have missed you. Can’t wait to have you playing again to complete our back four, that is reliable and solid with you in it. Don’t care what people say or comparing you to others. We love you for been you and what you bring to the Team. Welcome back Takehiro Tomiyasu
Our best right back since Lee Dixon by a country mile. Even better than Ralph Lauren.
If he continues the way he has started, he will be become one of the all-time Arsenal greats.
Kudos, too, to Arteta for bringing out the best in him. Long may it continue.
I really like that training was for left and right foot, passing and target shots. We have so many one-footed players there should be much more of it.
Idk what you’re saying but these are pro players – they trained like this for 20 years