Why Takehiro Tomiyasu kicked Oleksandr Zinchenko in Arsenal training for Porto amid injury update

Takehiro Tomiyasu was welcomed back to Arsenal training in bizarre fashion having missed most of the past three months with injury. He is yet to play for the club in 2024 having also been at the Asia Cup with Japan in January.

The 25-year-old's continued absence has left Mikel Arteta with a puzzle to solve across his backline, though it hasn't stopped the Gunners hit top form. Since his last appearance — in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham on New Year's Eve — Arsenal have won eight in a row domestically, scoring 33 times and conceding just the four with four cleansheets too.

Supported by Ben White's return to form, Arsenal are now looking to transfer that form into Europe as they welcome Porto for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday night. Starting the night 1-0 down on aggregate, Arteta almost has a full squad to work with.

One man who they are still to have return to the field is Tomiyasu. He has a chance of featuring at the Emirates Stadium after getting back on the grass at the Sobha Realty Training Ground on Monday, but will be assessed.

Having been missing for such an extended period, he was greeted by his teammates warmly. A video from their morning session just under 36 hours before kick-off sees the full-back being cheered into the group.

As the players form a large group awaiting him, Tomiyasu is slightly reserved but then gets the backing of his manager to run through the pile of bodies. He ducks down with a tunnel of green tops either side of him with players all trying to pat him on the head.

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