Arteta on what’s been going on with Takehiro Tomiyasu and what the club can do to support him through this process…

On what’s been going on with Takehiro Tomiyasu:

He’s been trying everything he possibly could to try to avoid [surgery]. We did that as well with the department. At some stage it wasn’t reacting as well as we needed it to, so we decided between all parties that the best thing to do was have surgery again. Unfortunately it’s going to keep him out for a long period again and it’s very sad because he is a player who lives for the game. He is really keen to play and be consistent, and when he is at his level he’s an incredible player for us.

On what the club can do to support him through this process:

We are constantly trying to do that, but as a foreign person you don’t have your family and relatives around you, you are on your own for many months. Especially for him, his life is football. When you understand what he does during the day, it’s just preparation for the next day, to be in the best possible condition. When injuries deny you that possibility to play and fulfil the purpose you have in your career, it’s very, very tough and hopefully he knows we are all here trying to help him but it’s tough. He needs to go through those moments, and I’ve been there, it’s a very lonely process.