Despite the last-gasp 4-3 win over Luton Town, Mikel Arteta shared concerning news about a key player during his post-match interview.
The Gunners faced the newly-promoted side on Tuesday, and despite taking the lead twice, two costly errors from goalkeeper David Raya allowed Luton Town to unexpectedly secure a 3-2 lead over the Premier League leaders.
Fortunately, a swift response from Kai Havertz and a brilliant header from Declan Rice in the final seconds of the game secured the three points, maintaining Arsenal's lead at the top ahead of a challenging festive period.
Regrettably, the North London team will be without a crucial player, Takehiro Tomiyasu, the versatile Japanese ace, who sustained an injury during the 2-1 victory at home to Wolves.
The 25-year-old missed Tuesday's match at Kenilworth Road, and despite hopes that it was a precautionary measure, Arteta revealed after the game that Tomiyasu suffered a calf injury. Additionally, Arteta stated that "it's not good news" and that Tomiyasu is "going to be out for a while."
Arteta on Tomiyasu injury: "We had a scan and it's not good news for Take, unfortunately".
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 5, 2023
"He's got an injury in his calf and he's going to be out for a while". pic.twitter.com/UZt513pazR
A report from the Daily Mail has provided more insight, indicating that the former Bologna defender is expected to miss 3-4 weeks due to a calf strain, ruling him out for the challenging festive period.
This setback is significant, as Arsenal, led by Saka and company, will face a tough run of fixtures between now and New Year's Eve. The Gunners will visit Aston Villa in their next Premier League match, followed by challenging encounters against Brighton, Liverpool, West Ham, and Fulham in succession.
Already without Jurrien Timber, who suffered an ACL injury in the opening round, Arsenal is further hampered by the absence of Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, and Fabio Vieira, who are unlikely to feature again until 2024.
Despite these challenges, Arsenal currently leads the league after 15 games with 36 points. Liverpool and Manchester City, set to play on Wednesday, are in hot pursuit, leaving the North London giants with little room for error.
