Arsenal reveal Takehiro Tomiyasu recovery timeline as Gunners shed new light on defender's knee injury

Arsenal have confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu is expected to be sidelined until the end of calendar year after undergoing surgery on a knee problem.

The Japan international revealed on Tuesday that he had gone under the knife to address the troubling injury, which he initially sustained during pre-season.

Tomiyasu underwent one procedure on the issue and was eventually re-integrated into the squad after months of rehabilitation, playing six minutes in October's home win over Southampton.

However, the former Bologna man's long-standing injury then flared up again, and he has not made another first-team appearance for Mikel Arteta's side since that brief cameo four months ago.

Tomiyasu spent time away from Arsenal's London Colney training base while he recovered both physically and mentally from his latest setback, and he labelled this period of his career the "toughest" so far when confirming his operation in midweek.

Arsenal shed more light on Tomiyasu injury

© Imago

Following the defender's own announcement, Arsenal have now provided more detail on Tomiyasu's problem, revealing that the injury is the same one he underwent in the summer rather than a new one he picked up in October.

The Gunners have also revealed that the 26-year-old is likely to return towards the end of 2025, meaning that he could spend another nine or 10 months out of contention.

"Takehiro Tomiyasu has undergone a successful surgery on the right knee issue which he first sustained in pre-season," Arsenal said in a medical update on Wednesday.

"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. Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Tomi to ensure he is back to full fitness as soon as possible."

Tomiyasu is only under contract at the Emirates until 2026, and his injury is likely to scupper the Gunners' chances of selling him this summer, but his deal also includes a 12-month extension option.

The former Bologna man has registered two goals and six assists in 84 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, making a name for himself as both a right-back and left-back under Arteta.

Tomiyasu's injury record analysed after knee operation

© Imago

While Tomiyasu has appeared 84 times in red and white when fully fit, he has also missed almost the exact same number of matches through injury since joining Arsenal, sitting out 82 contests for club and country.

The defender was unavailable for 13 games last term due to two separate calf injuries, missed the final two months of the 2022-23 season due to knee surgery and also sat out two months of the 2021-22 campaign with another calf concern.

The luckless Tomiyasu has still been a critical player for Arteta when fit, but there appears to be no end to his perpetual injury woes, and a parting of the ways in 2026 seems inevitable.

Written by
Ben Knapton