Arsenal have confirmed Takehiro Tomiyasu will be out of action for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.
The Japan international went under the knife to correct an injury he suffered in pre-season, and is now set to be sidelined for the majority of 2025.
Tomiyasu’s time in north London has been blighted by several injures since joining from Bologna in 2021.
A knee knock suffered during the Gunners‘ pre-season tour of America in the summer saw him miss the first six matches of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
The 26-year-old eagerly-awaited comeback came against Southampton on October 5 where he featured in the last six minutes of the club’s 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
But he hasn’t stepped foot back on the pitch since having suffered a setback immediately after his sole appearance this campaign.
There has been some confusion over the severity of the Japanese star’s injury and whether he would return during the second half of the campaign.
But after Tomiyasu broken his silence regarding his issue, Arsenal have now confirmed he may not be back in action until later this year.
Sharing an image of himself post-surgery on crutches on Instagram, the defender said: “I’ve had a surgery on my knee few days ago. I’ve already started my rehab to do what I love the most again.
“It has been the toughest period in my career for sure and it carries on a bit more but I won’t give up. Thank you for your support and see you again.”
The injury blow was then confirmed in a statement from Arsenal, which reads: “Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone a successful surgery on the right knee issue which he first sustained in pre-season.
“Despite an initial surgical procedure in August, followed by a return to full training, and featuring as a substitute in our home Premier League match against Southampton in October, Tomi continued to have issues with his knee, resulting in a further corrective surgical procedure.
“Tomi will now begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme, which is expected to be completed towards the end of this year. “
In what is his fourth campaign in England, Tomiyasu has been limited to just 84 appearances in all competitions.
A fan favourite at Arsenal, his versatility has seem him play at both right-back and left-back – despite being a natural centre-half.
But his repeated injuries have meant he has not been able to be relied upon for extended periods.
Since joining Arsenal, he has picked up seven serious injuries, from knee knocks to muscle problems.
It has seen him miss a staggering 82 matches in all competitions.
Arsenal’s absent stars
- Bukayo Saka – hamstring
- Kai Havertz – hamstring
- Gabriel Jesus – knee
- Gabriel Martinelli – hamstring
- Takehiro Tomiyasu – knee
Boss Mikel Arteta revealed in November he has no idea when he will back to action, as he stated: “Tomiyasu is still hurt and we don’t know when he’ll be back.
“He’s going to be gone for a few more weeks and he’s feeling terrible that he can’t help the team.”
Tomiyasu’s surgery means Arsenal will remain without five key first-team players for the foreseeable future.
He is the fourth Arsenal player to undergo surgery in 2025, with Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz undergoing hamstring operations.
Where to buy Saka’s boots
Arsenal fans are missing Bukayo Saka’s devastating attacking play at the moment due to his injury, but New Balance have put his skillset to good use.
The tricky winger was involved in the creation of the New Balance Pro V8 football boots.
Purpose-crafted for speed and featuring an ultralight Hypoknit upper to really strike the ball with finesse, the Furon V8’s were tested by Saka throughout their development.
If you’re looking for a new set of boots that have the seal of approval from one of the world’s best players, these are well worth a look.
Meanwhile Gabriel Jesus looks set to miss the rest of the year having suffered a second ACL injury.
Elsewhere, winger Reiss Nelson – on loan at Fulham – recently had surgery to fix his own hamstring issue.
