Is This the End for Takehiro Tomiyasu at Arsenal?

After parting ways with several players this summer, Arsenal have turned heads by moving quickly to negotiate for Valencia’s promising young center-back, Cristhian Mosquera.

At first glance, Mosquera seems like just another piece in Arteta’s defensive puzzle. But in the bigger picture, his arrival could signal the death sentence for Takehiro Tomiyasu’s career at the Emirates. Once praised as "world-class" by teammate Ben White, the Japanese defender has never quite had the chance to prove it consistently.

The Never-Ending Injury Nightmare

Tomiyasu may be one of Mikel Arteta’s most unfortunate players. Upon his arrival in London, he impressed with his versatility capable of playing as a center-back or full-back. But a series of injuries have left him as a frequent visitor to the treatment room.

While Arteta initially showed patience, he has been forced to take a more pragmatic approach. Arsenal simply can’t rely on a player who is regularly absent during the most crucial parts of the season.

If Mosquera does arrive, his preferred role as a right-footed central defender overlaps with Tomiyasu’s best position meaning game time for Tomiyasu could become virtually nonexistent.

Kiwior Stays, Tomiyasu in Limbo

Even Jakub Kiwior, who is also under threat, remains more secure thanks to a strong finish to last season. Tomiyasu, by contrast, hasn’t had the same luck.

Arsenal’s Dilemma

Ironically, Arsenal can’t offload Tomiyasu immediately. He recently underwent knee surgery and will miss the entire preseason and possibly remain sidelined until the end of the year.

In that context, the chances of any club investing in a player who’s just come out of surgery are slim to none.

Arsenal are fully aware of the financial risk: if they can’t find a temporary home for him, they may have to accept a near-total loss on the £17 million they initially spent or loan him out and hope he recovers enough to secure a permanent deal.

Tomiyasu’s current contract runs until summer 2026—not exactly short, but not long enough for Arsenal to wait forever.