Arsenal have plenty to be positive about beyond the return of Takehiro Tomiyasu to training to boost their top-four hopes.
The business end of the Premier League season is upon Arsenal and with sixteen games left to go, every single match both involving the Gunners, or their rivals will play a massive role in the story’s end.
Arsenal sit in pole position to reach the top four with some predictions giving the Gunners as high as a 54% chance of securing Champions League qualification according to FiveThirtyEight after the dropped points of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United last weekend.
However, with things looking so good, there is even more reason to be encouraged and for the optimism around the club to increase further.
Firstly is the return of Takehiro Tomiyasu to the Arsenal fold. Out since worsening an injury against Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final defeat, the 22-year-old has returned to training.
Arsenal released footage of the Japanese international working on his rehabilitation with fitness and ball work independent from the Gunners squad.
The next step will be integrating Tomiyasu into full training and perhaps he can be available for the home game against Brentford. Arsenal were without him for the first fixture between the two clubs with Tomiyasu still a Bologna player before joining on transfer deadline day.
The summer signing has become an immediate fan favourite thanks to his disciplined performances and consistency. Providing Mikel Arteta with greater defensive security and combining well with right-winger Bukayo Saka.
Secondly is a bright side of the misfortune of Arsenal’s own. Gabriel Martinelli was sent off in controversial circumstances against Wolves and will be suspended for the match with Brentford. However, this is likely to open the door to Emile Smith-Rowe returning to the starting eleven and the left-wing.
