On July 21, Premier League club Arsenal announced a disheartening update: Japanese international Kiwi Takahiro Tomiyasu will miss the upcoming preseason tour of the United States due to a knee injury. Since joining the Gunners from Serie A side Bologna in the summer of 2021, the 25-year-old defender has seemingly been plagued by injuries, causing significant frustration and disappointment among supporters.
According to The Sun UK, many fans expressed strong dissatisfaction with Tomiyasu’s injury history, with some even calling for the club to sell him. Here are some of the remarks made by fans:
“It’s time to sell him, he can’t stay fit.”
“This player is as fragile as glass.”
“Is Tomiyasu destined to be a long-term absentee along with Tierney [another injured teammate]?”
SportBible reported that despite playing 83 games for Arsenal over three years, injuries have consistently dogged Tomiyasu, leading some supporters to question his future at the club. Here are some of the fan reactions:
“Maybe it’s time to say goodbye.”
“I think his Arsenal career might be over.”
“Tomiyasu is a good player, but the constant injuries are a big issue.”
“We need to consider selling him, especially with the arrival of new signing Carafiori, which means more competition.”
“Tomiyasu’s recurring injuries are a serious problem. He can’t guarantee consistent performances. We should prioritize offloading Tomiyasu since the team can’t afford a player who’s frequently unavailable.”
However, amidst the wave of pessimism, there were also fans expressing support and optimism for Tomiyasu, hoping he would recover quickly and return to action in the Emirates Cup match against Bayer Leverkusen.