Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the remaining of the season after having surgery for a knee injury, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.
Japanese right-back Tomiyasu came off nine minutes into Arsenal’s Europa League round-of-16 encounter with Portuguese side Sporting CP after he slipped awkwardly during a challenge and hurt his knee.
Arteta had stated at the time that they were immediately concerned as the 24-year-old Japan international is “not one to exaggerate things.”
“Following his substitution during last Thursday’s Europa League match, subsequent assessments have confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu sustained a significant injury to his right knee,” Arsenal said in a statement.
“Tomi has had successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season.”
Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League in a penalty shootout but they are still top of the Premier League with an eight-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand.
The north London club also lost defender William Saliba to a back injury in the same game, with France opting to replace him in their squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Should Saliba be ruled out for any League games, Arteta may opt to move White to centre-back rather than start Rob Holding or Jakub Kiwior, with Thomas Partey potentially shifting to right-back as he did late on in the victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.
