Takehiro Tomiyasu may be ruled out of Arsenal v West Ham in new injury update
Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a calf strain, meaning he may miss the Premier League clash with West Ham on 28 December, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper shared via their website on 6 December that the Japan international looks set to miss several key Premier League fixtures over the winter period, with the three to four-week prognosis a best-case scenario.
Tomiyasu had started three games in a row for the Gunners before he was ruled out of their 4-3 win against Luton on 5 December, and this new timeline will come as a blow.
A boost for the Hammers
Although the game against Arsenal at The Emirates is a while away yet, with plenty of football to be played between now and then, Tomiyasu’s potential absence will come as a boost to David Moyes’ side after his recent form had made him a starting player under Mikel Arteta.
In his absence at Luton, Arsenal shipped three goals and showed they could be got at, with his replacement Ben White struggling to cope with the Hatters’ attack, as he could be blamed for failing to close down Ross Barkley for Luton’s third goal of the game.
The physical nature and excellent 1v1 ability of Tomiyasu would have been tricky for the Hammers to break down, but without him in the side, Lucas Paqueta – who normally would have been up against him – may be granted more freedom.
With Arsenal flying at the top of the league this season, Moyes’ West Ham side will have to take all the good news they can get ahead of what will still prove a tricky visit to North London.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have activated a contract extension for an exit-linked ace.