Arsenal are waiting to learn the full extent of Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury after being forced to withdraw from their tour of the United States.
The defender injured his knee during training last week and remained on the field as a precaution and to undergo additional tests.
Tomiyasu has suffered physical problems at various events in his Arsenal career and Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has admitted it is “unbelievable” he is absent given his paint-perfect ethic.
Arsenal are hoping the knee injury is not serious, and their defence will soon be bolstered thanks to the £40m signing of flexible Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Serie A side Bologna.
“It’s incredible, because he works so hard,” Arteta said when asked about Tomiyasu’s knee injury in the United States on Monday.
“He had an incident at school this week and we don’t know the extent of that injury yet, but as a precaution we kept him [in England]. We’ll see what happens. “
Arsenal will have Tomiyasu on their pre-season tour of the United States, which includes matches against Bournemouth, Liverpool and Manchester United. However, they will welcome Jurrien Timber back.
The Dutch defender missed almost all of last season due to a knee injury, having featured in the first and final Premier League games of the campaign.
Timber is now back to fitness and Arteta will be hoping to play a role next season.
“He is so willing that you can see it in his framework language and in the way he acts,” Arteta said. “He’s worked so hard that I think he’s in a smart position right now.
“We’ll have to manage it now in the next few weeks, especially as the load you’ll have to do in the last few months compared to the next two weeks is very different, but we’re very excited.
“It’s not easy to come to a big club like this and start setting expectations with your performances, and then from day one of the Premier League to be out of the season.
“But mentally he is a difficult boy. He has a wonderful environment around him and I hope that makes him a wonderful player. “
“He is a leader. He likes to be exposed and contribute to everything we do. He is very vocal and has incredible technical talent. He is an addition to the team.
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