Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta might be forced into the transfer market after learning that Takehiro Tomiyasu has reportedly withdrawn from the Japan squad because of injury. The defender played in the Gunners’ Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool despite carrying a knock.
Arteta did not want to play Tomiyasu but was forced to do so due to injuries suffered by Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers.
The former Bologna right-back has playing through a calf injury and might have made it worse by playing against Liverpool.
Several supporters noticed that Tomiyasu was not in any pictures released from training sessions after the semi-final loss. According to the Japan Times, the 23-year-old has now had to pull out of his national team squad.
“We didn’t want to play him, we had to push him because Cedric and Calum were out and we didn’t have any full-backs,” Arteta said after the game.
“The moment that he knew that, he said that he would play. He didn’t have any training sessions with us, and still was willing to play and compete the way he has done today.”
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could be forced into the transfer market (Image: GETTY)
And his injury could prompt Arteta to invest in another right-back.
Neither Cedric nor Chambers have performed well in Tomiyasu’s absence. The former was particularly poor in Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest.
Coincidentally, it is Forest’s right-back who is of interest to Arsenal.
According to Sky Sports, the North Londoners would like to sign Djed Spence after the south Londoner impressed in the game at the County Ground.
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Spence is one of few right-backs who have kept Gabriel Martinelli quiet this season.
The only issue with a deal for Spence is that he would need to be loaned back to either Forest or his parent club Middlesbrough for the remainder of the campaign.
Spence is on loan at Forest from ‘Boro having fallen out of favour under former boss Neil Warnock earlier in the campaign.
Warnock has since been replaced by Chris Wilder. It is unclear whether the ex-Sheffield United boss rates the 21-year-old.
FIFA rules state that a player cannot play for more than two clubs in a single season.
Arsenal: Can Mikel Arteta win another trophy? (Image: EXPRESS SPORT)
Spence played four times for ‘Boro and has gone on to feature 20 times for Forest, scoring and assisting a goal each from right-back.
Having to secure a deal for a new right-back might scupper Arsenal’s chances of signing Dusan Vlahovic this month, with a transfer for the Fiorentina starlet already unlikely as he is reported to have contracted COVID-19.
Arsenal are keen to sign a striker because they face the prospect of losing their three main options ahead of next season.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seems unlikely to rekindle his Gunners career, while neither Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah have moved any closer to extending their contracts beyond June.
