Arsenal dealt injury blow for Aston Villa clash after squad announcement

Arsenal look set to be without versatile defender Takehiro Tomiyasu for the trip to Aston Villa this weekend.

The 23-year-old has not been named in Japan's squad for the upcoming international break, presumably through injury. Tomiyasu has been absent for nearly two months, since mid-january due problems in both his calves.

He hasn't featured in Arsenal's last eight games, including the 2-0 defeat against title-chasers Liverpool on Wednesday night at the Emirates. Speaking before the game, boss Mikel Arteta said of Tomiyasu: "We have been trying to push him, but with the handbrake a little bit because we need to be careful as we don’t want to get another injury with him."

With an extended break coming up for the Japan international - after he was omitted from their squad for their March fixtures against Australia and Vietnam - Arteta will likely be patient and let him recover fully before a crucial end to the season. Arsenal are competing for Champions League football and have coped well with Tomiyasu's absence, winning five of their last six Premier League games.

Villa will test Arsenal's resolve this Saturday though, especially as their long unbeaten run - which had stretched to New Year's Day - ended against Jurgen Klopp's Reds. Steven Gerrard's side tasted defeated last time out too, losing 2-1 to Champions League-chasing West Ham at the London Stadium.

Villa could be without the likes of Lucas Digne and Douglas Luiz for Arsenal's visit to Villa Park and Gerrard could re-shuffle the pack to face a side who have only lost two Premier League games in their last 12.

Villa were beaten 3-1 by Arsenal earlier this season which was Dean Smith's penultimate away trip with the club, before being sacked and replaced by