Mikel Arteta has delivered an encouraging new update on Takehiro Tomiyasu as the Arsenal defender looks to return from his latest injury absence.
The versatile Japan international has yet to play at all so far this season after suffering a knee injury during a training session in July, shortly before the Gunners left for their pre-season tour of the USA.
The luckless Tomiyasu ended up missing that trip and the rest of Arsenal’s summer schedule and has been recovering ever since, sitting out all of Arsenal’s first seven matches of the season across all competitions.
A potential timeline for his return had not been set, with manager Arteta insisting that the first phase of the injury had been “slow” and that it was difficult to pinpoint when exactly he might be back.
However, the Spaniard gave far more positive news on Tomiyasu at a press conference held before Saturday’s visit of struggling promoted side Leicester to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, insisting that the 25-year-old was taking part in some training at London Colney after making real progress and was now in a “good place”.
It remains unclear exactly when he will be available for Arsenal again, with Arteta admitting that he is behind the likes of new signing Mikel Merino in the late stages of his recovery.
“He had partial training today and he looked good,” Arteta said of Tomiyasu on Friday. “He’s progressing really well and is a little bit behind Mikel, but we don’t know with Tomi because he’s another one that pushes every single day. He’s in a good place now I think.”
Tomiyasu will be desperate to finally banish his injury woes, having missed significant periods with calf and knee injuries over recent seasons.
First-choice goalkeeper David Raya remains a doubt for Arsenal to feature against Leicester after suffering a thigh problem during last week’s dramatic 2-2 draw with title rivals Manchester City, meaning 16-year-old academy product Jack Porter became the youngest player ever to start a first-team game for the Gunners in their 5-1 Carabao Cup third-round thrashing of League One side Bolton on Wednesday night, with usual deputy Neto cup-tied and No3 option Tommy Setford injured.
Bournemouth loanee Neto will make his first Arsenal appearance against the winless Foxes if Raya - who has been in inspired form so far this season - misses out again, while Arteta also expressed hope that defenders Jurrien Timber and Ben White would both be fit for Saturday.
However, the game will come too soon for Merino, while Arsenal also remain without the likes of captain Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney due to injury.
Leandro Trossard is available again after serving a one-match suspension in midweek after being sent off in the first half against City at the Etihad Stadium, while Arteta has also confirmed that teenage midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly is available after being forced off with cramp on his full senior debut against Bolton.
