Mikel Arteta has previously dismissed talk of selling one of his players to Bayern Munich. Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has reportedly agreed on a new long-term deal with the club in a clear message to Bayern Munich. The Japanese international had been linked with the Bundesliga champions, but a move did not materialize, and now the North London club has seemingly staved off the threat of a summer departure. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the 25-year-old has accepted an offer from the Gunners for a new deal.
Tomiyasu has struggled to nail down a regular place this season, with Arteta preferring the central defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba. Tomiyasu has been on international duty with Japan at the Asian Cup, but now will return to London after the Samurai Blue were beaten 2-1 in the quarter-finals by Iran on Saturday. Arteta will welcome his return to the club. “He’s loved and respected by everybody at the club,” said Arteta.
“He’s getting a lot of minutes now. He’s getting to a level of availability that we need to make an impact on the team. He will continue to be with us.” The club catapulted themselves back into the Premier League title race on Sunday with a 3-1 win over Liverpool.
However, Arteta is all too aware of the need for defensive back-up in the run-in. Last season, the Gunners arguably saw their title hopes derailed by a back injury to Saliba, with the Frenchman’s 2022/23 season ending in early March.