Takehiro Tomiyasu has been unavailable for much of 2022 and his absence his crossed over with the absences of Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey. The combined effect has wreaked havoc with team selection.
Mikel Arteta has struggled to set up the Arsenal team to deal with the absences and subsequently lost the last three matches. Tomiyasu has been frustratingly absent despite several false dawns over a possible return.
“Tomi is the only one that's still there in contention [to miss the game]" Arteta said before the Liverpool home match more than a month ago. "We have been trying to push him, but with the handbrake a little bit because we need to be careful as we don’t want to get another injury with him. We don’t know [if tomorrow is too soon]. Let’s see how he trains today.”
READ MORE: Arsenal had perfect Takehiro Tomiyasu replacement but let him leave in January transfer window
Fast forward to today and Mikel Arteta again was asked on Tomiyasu’s fitness. He gave as optimistic an answer as he could without fully confirming an imminent return for the match with Chelsea.
“Tomi is very, very close. Whether this game is going to be too early for him or not, again we will decide it today after the training session.”
Despite this, many Arsenal supporters were keen not to see the 23-year-old risked tonight. Some drawing on what happened in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool.
@IllegitamateX: The last time we rushed Tomiyasu back Jota sent him to the shops on multiple occasions like it was black friday
@TheFarrelly17: Would you rush him back in if not fully fit?
@ceebadx: If he's " very, very close" don't start him. We're losing this game anyways, just save him for the weekend when we actually have a chance.
@C99Cody1: GET INNNN! Have him on the bench as a last resort for Chelsea, don’t want to rush him back too soon
@starklauz: Don’t use him if not fit please .we need this man
@VkOnuchukwu: If he plays tomorrow he’ll get injured
It is difficult to disagree with the idea of holding off on rushing Tomiyasu back into the group. Diogo Jota did indeed find it easier than possibly he would have done to pass the Arsenal man.
Up against a reinvigorated Timo Werner, perhaps the match-ready Cedric would be a better idea. That said, I believe a back three would ultimately be a better option to deal with Chelsea’s attack tonight and bring back some solidity.
Tomiyasu could play in the right centre-half role, providing him added security with Ben White and Cedric surrounding him. With Manchester United on Saturday however, it may be wise instead to leave him out or just bring him on for the final ten minutes to get some game time for preparation.
Even the biggest optimist has little hope for tonight’s result. However, United at the weekend provides a much greater opportunity of victory and that should infer tonight’s thought processes.
