Premier League 2024/25: Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu facing extended injury layoff, reveals Mikel Arteta

Arsenal will have to cope without defender Takehiro Tomiyasu as they kick off their Premier League campaign, with manager Mikel Arteta confirming that the Japan international will be sidelined for several weeks due to a knee injury. Tomiyasu, aged 25, was unable to join Arsenal's pre-season tour in the U.S. due to the injury, and was also missing from Sunday's 2-0 victory over Lyon in London.

"I think it will take weeks on that one unfortunately," Arteta told reporters of Tomiyasu's injury. "He's going to have to be patient and work through it because I think it's going to take a few weeks."

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Dutch defender Jurrien Timber, who missed most of last season due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear that required surgery, also missed Sunday's game with a knee injury but is expected rejoin the first team in the next week, Arteta added.

Arsenal, last season's runners-up, begin their Premier League campaign on Saturday at home against Wolverhampton Wanderers.