Takehiro Tomiyasu has reportedly signed a new deal with Arsenal as the Japan international closes in on a return to action.
The versatile defender joined the Gunners from Serie A side Bologna in 2021 and he has gone on to make 73 appearances for the club across all competitions. Now, according to a report from the Sun, Tomiyasu has put pen to paper on a new contract that will double his wages to around £100,000-a-week.
The report also notes that his new deal is set to be officially announced once the player returns from injury. And the 25-year-old should be back in action soon, having been sidelined with a calf problem.
Speaking after Arsenal's 6-0 demolition of Sheffield United on Monday, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said of Tomiyasu: "He's very close, he's already doing something on the grass and hopefully we're going to have him very close with us."
Fellow defender Ben White is also said to be 'extremely close' to agreeing terms on a new contract, while the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Aaron Ramsdale have also extended their deals in recent months.
Wenger breaks silence on Arsenal visit as he doubles down on title predictionThe report adds that this is down to the work of sporting director Edu, with Arsenal keen to reward players for their good form rather than waiting for agents to approach them like they have done in the past.
The Gunners currently sit third in the Premier League, just two points behind league leaders Liverpool, and Arteta is feeling confident with Arsenal having scored 31 goals in their last seven league games.
"We don't know [if goal difference could be key]," he said. "Obviously, the fact we scored so many goals and not conceding is a great sign, but it's about winning every game now, and that's the demands those two clubs have put over the last six or seven years, and that's the task ahead of us.
"We are trying to improve in every phase of play; they are understanding the chemistry of the players and the desire they have to constantly be better, and improve in every area. If you do that, there are moments that you can be as dominant but it's not easy that's for sure.
"Obviously, they know and the way we trained, they know that what they want to do. But then you have to manage the game, you have to see as well how the opponent is looking, and today I thought they did really well."
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