Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru;

Editing by Toby Davis

(Reuters) – Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the rest of the season after having surgery for a knee injury, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

Japanese right back Tomiyasu came off nine minutes into Arsenal’s Europa League last-16 encounter with Portuguese side Sporting after he slipped awkwardly during a challenge and hurt his knee.

Arteta had said at the time that they were immediately concerned as the 24-year-old Japan international is “not one to exaggerate things”.

“Following his substitution during last Thursday’s Europa League match, subsequent assessments have confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu sustained a significant injury to his right knee,” Arsenal said in a statement.

“Tomi has had successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season.“

x

Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League in a penalty shootout but they are still top of the Premier League with an eight-point lead over Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

The north London club also lost defender William Saliba to a back injury in the same game, with France opting to replace him in their squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.

(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)

SOURCE: REUTERS

Follow us @NairobiReviewKE for more stories.

If you have a story you’d like us to share kindly DM us directly @NairobiReviewKE on twitter or send us an email on info@nairobireview.africa.