The question of whether Takehiro Tomiyasu will be fit for Arsenal’s Premier League encounter against Luton Town is on the minds of many supporters. Expectations are that the answer to this inquiry will be out soon.
During the pre-match press conference, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta mentioned that a decision is taken. That is on the fitness of the Japan international, Takehiro Tomiyasu. Arteta confirmed that the defender was still undergoing assessment following his substitution in the 2-1 win. That is over Luton Town during the tough weekend.
Arteta said:
“We assessed him after the game and took him out for precaution. We will wait. Whether it’s useful to use him we’ll decide tomorrow. He’s a strong boy hopefully he’ll be fine.”
Tomiyasu may be completely ready for selection. However, it’s worth noting that Arsenal has upcoming away matches at Villa Park and Anfield. This places Mikel Arteta in the position of having to make a significant decision regarding the starting lineup for the clash at Kenilworth Road.
Will Arteta prefer the starting lineup without Tomiyasu?
If the decision is there to avoid risking the 25-year-old Tomiyasu against the Hatters, then Ben White becomes the apparent choice to fill in at right-back. White missed the win over Burnley prior to last month’s international break due to injury. He has since made three back to back appearances as a substitute.
In an ideal scenario Tomiyasu might receive the all-clear and may get a start against Luton. Then only Arteta would have the benefit of putting an unchanged matchday squad for the fixture. However, if the talented defender is unable to make the trip, it could pose a slight issue for the manager.
In similar situations in the past, Arteta has addressed the issue by summoning academy players to bolster the squad. If the Burnley game serves as an example, Reuell Walters would likely be considered for a spot on the bench. That is as defensive cover if Tomiyasu is unable to make it on matchday.
