Arsenal picked up a much-needed three points in the race for a top four place by beating London rivals Chelsea on Wednesday night, with goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka and an Eddie Nketiah brace as he started in place of Alexandre Lacazette.
The defensive shape deployed by Mikel Arteta at Stamford Bridge allowed the Gunners to cope with much of Chelsea’s intense pressure and escape on several occasions to hit the Blues on the break. It was achieved without some key figures in the side, too.
Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey are expected to miss most, if not all, of the season. Takehiro Tomiyasu is on the road to recovery but has been out for most of the calendar year. This presents a puzzle for Arsenal manager Arteta to solve ahead of the weekend.
Manchester United visit the Gunners next in another crucial battle for a top-four spot, and Tomiyasu will have been in full first-team training this week. Arteta must decide whether to integrate the Japanese international into the team or be cautious. football.london's Arsenal writers have had their say on what the Spaniard should do.
READ MORE: Arsenal had perfect Takehiro Tomiyasu replacement but let him leave in January transfer window
Tom Canton – Arsenal Fan Brand Writer/Presenter
For me, the return of Tomiyasu is an absolute must this weekend. Whilst I thought that Ben White was a competent performer on the right-hand side, the 22-year-old is just on a higher level and far more accustomed to the rigours of the position.
It is also expected that Arsenal will be much more of the protagonist in the game compared to the win at Stamford Bridge. Tomiyasu can link up with Bukayo Saka much more efficiently than his England teammate. Throughout the first half of the season, the former Bologna man was excellent at progressing play and the goal against Southampton in the 3-0 win was a perfect example of this.
Rob Holding, whilst good defensively on Wednesday night, did struggle with his distribution and Arsenal could do with White’s consistent passing from the back. The move would also give Nuno Tavares plenty more security considering the discipline that Tomiyasu brings to the role. Fingers crossed that the return of Arsenal’s summer signing can be a positive spark as they chase a top-four finish.
Bailey Keogh – Arsenal Fan Brand Writer/Presenter
If Takehiro Tomiyasu was fully fit then I would have looked to integrate him into the side, but he is still a doubt and we saw how he struggled against Liverpool’s potent attack in the Carabao Cup semi-final when he wasn’t up to match pace. Manchester United are extremely dangerous from the wing positions also, so I will stick with Ben White in the starting lineup regardless of Tomiyasu’s availability.
Arsenal looked defensively solid against Chelsea on Wednesday evening, despite conceding two goals. Rob Holding was excellent and it would be unfair to drop him out of the side again.
Tomiyasu should be reintegrated into the team once he is fully match fit, but the fact that he was even unable to make the substitutes bench against Chelsea says a lot about where he is in terms of match fitness. For that reason, I would not start Tomiyasu against Manchester United.
I think the West Ham game would be a more realistic fixture for his return to the starting lineup, but once again this should only be considered if he gets minutes against Manchester United on Saturday. We must learn from the last time we rushed Tomiyasu back into the team. Having available for the final games of the season will be crucial, and we should not risk that for the sake of one game.
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer
Mikel Arteta has a big decision to make against Manchester United. Does he recall Takehiro Tomiyasu to the starting XI if the defender is passed fit, or ease him back in?
For me, it's a very easy call. Arteta has already rushed Tomiyasu back once this season and we know how that turned out as he's only made a matchday squad on one occasion since January 20 and for that reason alone, the Spaniard must take a cautious approach.
Whilst Cedric Soares' form has dipped of late and Benjamin White not looking too comfortable as a right-sided centre-back in a three-man defence against Chelsea, I would still resist the temptation to hand Tomiyasu a start. If anything, he should only be considered for a place on the bench and if the game allows it, some minutes in the closing stages.
We only have to look at what happened with Thomas Partey last season when he came back too soon and ended up missing six weeks of action. Arteta has already been burned once with Tomiyasu and with Arsenal firmly in the top-four race, it's vital the first-choice right-back's fitness is managed carefully as he can still have a major role to play this season.
