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Mikel Arteta has issued the latest fitness update on Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu, with both players currently ruled out due to injury.
THE LOWDOWN: EARLY INJURY WOES
The new season is yet to begin but Arsenal are already facing some struggles in the form of injuries. The Gunners have been brilliant in pre-season, winning all five games but the tone could change when the new campaign commences and competitive games start to come in thick and fast.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is among the players currently in the treatment room, with new signing Fabio Vieira in the mix as well. The latter’s case is quite peculiar, given that he only joined Arsenal in the current window but fans are yet to see him in action till date.
We already detailed the reason for Vieira’s absence till date and the story remains pretty much the same, with his return date not exactly certain as it stands.
THE LATEST: RACE AGAINST TIME AHEAD OF NEW SEASON
Speaking after Arsenal’s 4-0 victory against Chelsea at the weekend, Mikel Arteta spoke about a make-shift back four, where Ben White was forced to play at right back in the continued absence of Tomiyasu.
The Spaniard said to the club’s website: “At the moment Tierney and Tomiyasu are not fit, we have other options, but I think it was good to try different things, to build some relationships in big matches, and I’m happy with the way they played.”
Pressed further on Tomiyasu and Vieira’s injury woes, he added: “Yeah, Tomi is really close to start doing some training sessions. Hopefully next week and Fabio probably a little bit longer. I think he needs another week or so before he starts with the team but he’s been working hard and he’s been really unlucky to start his Arsenal career in this way but again he’s fitting in well.”
THE VERDICT: ARSENAL HAVE COVER…FOR NOW
The arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City means Arsenal have a reliable name who can stand in at left-back for the injured Tierney. In the case of Tomiyasu, Ben White has now played at right back in Arsenal’s last two pre-season games and it could yet be that way for the start of the season, with Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in defence.
On another note, a report claims Arsenal could target another defender, possibly a right back, if Tomiyasu’s injury struggles go on for longer than expected.
Based on Arteta’s comments, Tomiyasu might be fit in time for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on August 5th but it may come too soon for Fabio Vieira, who might remain on the sidelines for another two weeks.
