Arsenal: Takehiro Tomiyasu suffers fresh injury setback as nightmare season continues

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has suffered a setback as he makes his way back to full fitness from a knee injury.

Tomiyasu injured his knee in pre-season and it forced him to be out of action until Arsenal’s game at home to Southampton.

The Japan international came on for the final six minutes of the 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium, but he is now set for another spell on the sidelines.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Tomiyasu will miss Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth and the Gunners are assessing the defender to see the extent of his setback.

“We don’t know that (how long he will be out for),” said Arteta.

“It doesn’t look like, hopefully, a long period but we have to see when he comes back how he reacts to the load and to the impact on the pitch as well.

“But we really need him, he has been incredible, his work rate, the amount of hours he has put in to get back.

“He did it and he was in great shape - and now he has got something else again. But, we are all behind him. He needs our support and hopefully he will be fine.”