Team news

Team news: the latest on Tomiyasu’s availability

Mikel Arteta has provided an update on Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

The Japan international hasn’t featured since early January due to a calf injury - but our head coach is remaining patient with his return to full fitness.

Read the transcript below for the latest on Tomiyasu’s availability, plus an update on Emile Smith Rowe:

on whether Tomiyasu will be fit for Saturday…

There is a chance, but we don’t know, again today in training we will see how he’s feeling.

on why he’s taken so long to get back to full fitness…

Because he had a reoccurring injury around the same place and then obviously after that you have to be a little more cautious sometimes.

on our latest team news update…

No news. Yesterday we just recovered after the game and today we will have our first training session, so we will see how everybody is today.

on whether Smith Rowe is fit to start…

He was fine again, he had a little issue before the game, but he’s been fine the past two days so hopefully now he can get some consistency and momentum.