Arsenal have performed a complete U-turn on the future of Takehiro Tomiyasu, according to reports. The Gunners are said to be preparing to offer the Japan star a new contract just months after they were willing to let him leave.
Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna in 2021 and immediately became a fan favourite. Injuries restricted his progress at the Emirates and he lost his starting spot at right-back to Ben White.
He became somewhat of a bit-part player for Mikel Arteta last season while also missing the last couple of months of the campaign after undergoing knee surgery. The signing of Jurrien Timber in the summer saw Tomiyasu fall further down the pecking order.
He was then linked with a move away from the Emirates after entering the final two years of his contract. The Daily Mail claims Arsenal had him on a list of players they were prepared to sell following a summer spend of more than £200million.
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But Tomiyasu was taken off that list when Timber suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury on his Premier League debut. He has taken his chance with both hands so far this season and the Mail now says he is set to be offered a new deal.
Arsenal have the option to extend Tomiyasu’s contract by 12 months until 2026. However, the Gunners want to open talks over a longer-term deal.
Tomiyasu provides Arsenal with versatility as he can play in every position in the back four. He has mostly shared left-back duties with Oleksandr Zinchenko this season, starting seven games in all competitions.
Arsenal’s stance on Tomiyasu indicates a U-turn from where they sat just three months ago. Arteta explained the 25-year-old’s importance in September.
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The Spaniard said: “I always said that I’m really confident that the moment Tomi has consistency, he’s going to be a tremendous asset for us. He already is.
“He can play in any position in the backline, any formation in the backline, we don’t have another player like him. At defending, he’s probably one of the best that I’ve seen in many situations.
“His concepts, his principles, the way he applies that, the way he goes into duels…now he needs a run of games so that physically he’s at his best. If physically, Tomi is at his best, we’re going to have a player that is so important for us.”
Arsenal also want to extend the contract of White, who missed full training on Thursday as he nurses a muscle injury. Tomiyasu could be in line to play at right-back against Brentford if White doesn’t make it.
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