Arteta faces transfer decision over star who 'lost confidence' after key error
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will need to decide whether to keep or sell defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, with Inter Milan linked with a move for the Japanese international.
Tomiyasu joined Arsenal from Bologna ahead of the 2021-22 season, impressing in his first season when fit. He found opportunities tougher to come by last season, though, with Ben White excelling after moving from centre-back to the former Serie A star's preferred right-back position.
With Jurrien Timber joining from Ajax this summer, Arsenal have even greater depth at the back. Tomiyasu had some difficult moments last term, with an error in the Gunners' loss to Manchester City particularly tough to take.
When Arsenal hosted City in February 2023, Tomiyasu came into the side in place of White. It was the ex-Bologna man's first Premier League start since before the World Cup, and it was marred by a loose backpass which allowed Kevin De Bruyne to open the scoring for City.
Tomiyasu suffered a knee injury not long after, going down in the same Europa League game against Sporting CP in which team-mate William Saliba was dealt an injury blow of his own. He has admitted that, during his period on the sidelines, he was able to reflect on the loss of confidence which followed that City game.
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"It was a difficult period for me," Tomiyasu told football.london. " Ben White was doing very well and to be honest I lost confidence. But the injured period was four months and I thought about a lot of things at this time.
“You need to learn from the injuries, also the mistakes from the Manchester City game as well. You have good and bad moments but you need to learn a lot of things from the bad moments. Now I am feeling good, not only for the body, but my head and also my career. It’s all positive."
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According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tomiyasu has emerged as an option for Inter as they look to replace Milan Skriniar. Slovakian international Skriniar played his final game for the Nerazzurri in their Champions League defeat to Manchester City before completing a summer move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah is also among the names being linked. While Tomiyasu has featured on both sides of the back four for Arsenal, the Inter links suggest he could be in line to feature in a more central role if he returns to Serie A.
Arsenal are a man lighter in defence, having agreed a deal to sell Auston Trusty to Sheffield United. The US international spent last season on loan in the Championship with Birmingham City, where he won the Blues' player of the season award.
"We are so proud to see how far Auston has come and the journey he has been on," Arsenal sporting director Edu said. "If you look at him when he joined us compared to now when he is leaving us, he has achieved so much."
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