Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu has opened up about his injury struggles armoryAnd a lingering disappointment that his time with the Gunners did not go as he wanted.
27-year-old defender comments on Ajax Showtime report Today, from an interview with Ajax Life. He is trying to rebuild his career at the Dutch club after a disappointing few years at the Emirates.
Injury problems ruin Arsenal story
Takehiro Tomiyasu’s time at Arsenal got off to a great start, but the momentum was not sustained. A series of shin and knee injuries derailed his progress and he struggled to remain available.
The defender has missed at least seven games in every season since the 19/20 campaign. It has been seen that he spends at least 57 days out of the field. His longest absence. In the 2024/25 campaign, three injuries resulted in a total of 435 days missed and a total of 57 games.
This was not what the Japanese international had envisioned himself. And he admits it was hard to take.
He said, “I could never have imagined that I would be hit so hard at Arsenal, because I am really careful about my body.”
“Probably more than anyone else. The first six months in London were fantastic. I was living the dream.
“In four years, I played an average of about twenty matches. Normally, you are already closer to sixty in a season. In the end, it was not the memory I wanted to make there. But it is what it is.”
The defender says he still doesn’t fully understand why his body breaks down so often.
“If I had handled it wrong I would have understood it. You have players who party after the match and never get injured. I was not doing anything crazy at all, yet it happened to me. You get frustrated for a moment.”
Acceptance, Patience and a New Perspective
The 27-year-old eventually reached an agreement with Arsenal to terminate his contract last summer. He then spent the first five months as a free agent. Joining Ajax in December.
He has since made seven appearances for the Dutch club, totaling a total of 205 minutes in all competitions.
These are not the numbers he was expecting but, he insists, he has now reached a point of acceptance. And it helps him move forward after Arsenal.
“If you give up, it’s all over. So, don’t stop!” He said. “Eventually you realize in life that things happen that you can’t control. What’s the point in getting upset about it? Life goes on.”
He told how he changed his mindset during a long period away from the pitch.
“Every day there’s something you can work on. For example, if you’re not on the field, you have the gym. Or you spend time with your family and friends. I… have to be patient.”
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