Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Takehiro Tomiyasu following his return to action vs Liverpool.

Arsenal would take on Liverpool on Thursday evening in a League Cup semi-final tie, but went on to lose the game 2-0, handing Jurgen Klopp’s side a place in the final vs Chelsea.

Following the game, Mikel Arteta was asked if Takehiro Tomiyasu, who had missed the Gunners’ previous two outings, was still having trouble with his calf or was he just lacking match fitness.

Arteta then confirmed that Arsenal had to play the Japanese star because both Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers were unavailable: “No what he’s done is incredible.

“We didn’t want to push him, we had to play him because Cedric and Calum were unavailable. Without them we didn’t have any full-backs and the second he knew that he said ‘I will play’.”

Arteta added that Tomiyasu did not train with Arsenal before the game: “He still didn’t have any training sessions with us and was still willing to play and compete in the way he’s done today.

“I’m extremely proud and grateful for the players that we have.”

Tomiyasu in the wrong for Jota opener?

Though a brave move on the part of Tomiyasu, did his lack of match sharpness cost Arsenal vs Liverpool?

The defender seemed to be somewhat at fault for Liverpool’s opener on the day when Diogo Jota received the ball at the top end of Arsenal’s half before being shown inside by Tomiyasu, only for the Portuguese to then see his deflected effort find its way into Aaron Ramsdale’s net:


Arteta would be asked if Tomiyasu should have shown Jota down the line for the first goal in his post-match press conference and said:  “He slipped. He was trying to block the ball, he almost had the ball and he slipped.

“After that he tried to block the ball, it goes through his legs and the other way was the keeper. So I think it’s difficult to prevent that one.”

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