Darren Bent believes that Arsenal’s £17 million signing is significantly undervalued and plays a much more critical role in the team than most people realize. He suggests the player’s contributions often go unnoticed but are essential to Arsenal’s overall performance and success.
♦Arsenal’s season has been plagued with injury issues, impacting key players at crucial moments of their campaign. While Martin Ødegaard’s absence has drawn significant attention in recent months, he is far from the only player whose unavailability has hurt the team. Among the overlooked yet crucial absences is that of Takehiro Tomiyasu, a versatile defender whose importance to Arsenal has been underappreciated by rival fans.
Speaking on Inside Gooners, Darren Bent emphasized just how much Arsenal have missed the Japanese international. Bent believes that Tomiyasu’s contributions to the team are often underestimated, particularly by those outside the Arsenal fanbase. Rival supporters, he says, tend to dismiss his absence as a minor issue, failing to grasp how vital Tomiyasu is to the squad.
“Rival fans don’t understand how important Tomiyasu is,” Bent stated. “They think mentioning him in an injury crisis is making excuses. But anyone who watches Arsenal closely knows that Tomiyasu is a player who never lets the team down. He may not always deliver a 10/10 performance, but his consistent 7 or 8 out of 10 shows reliability, versatility, and quality.”
Bent highlighted Tomiyasu’s ability to play in multiple positions across the backline, making him an invaluable asset for Mikel Arteta. His consistent performances, even if not always spectacular, provide the defensive solidity Arsenal rely on. Without him, the team has struggled to maintain the same level of stability, particularly during their ongoing injury crisis.
Unfortunately, Arsenal fans may have to wait a while longer before they see Tomiyasu back on the pitch. Manager Mikel Arteta recently revealed that the £17 million signing is set to remain sidelined for several weeks. Arteta also expressed sympathy for the player, noting how difficult the recovery process has been for Tomiyasu both physically and mentally.
“It has been really tough for him psychologically,” Arteta shared. “He’s the kind of player who works tirelessly to get better, and it’s frustrating for him not to be fit. We’re doing everything we can to support him and ensure he returns stronger, but we’ll need patience.”
Tomiyasu’s absence, coupled with other defensive setbacks such as Ben White’s long-term injury, has left Arsenal’s backline stretched thin. The lack of depth has been evident, with the Gunners going four games without a win in the Premier League. As Arsenal aim to recover their form, the return of players like Tomiyasu could be pivotal in their quest to stabilize their season and reignite their campaign.
