Takuma Asano admits his 18/19 season was ‘frustrating’ and ‘difficult’ as people wonder why on earth Arsenal still have him listed as a first-team player.

Takuma Asano spent last season on loan with Hannover but it didn’t go well. He is set to return to Arsenal after the German side decided against activating the forward’s option to buy in his one-year loan deal.

It was clear for a while that would be the case. Asano was one appearance short of triggering a compulsory purchase clause, but Hannover deliberately left him out of the team for almost two months just to avoid that scenario.

The 24-year-old played a total of 15 games for the relegated German side, scoring once and winning a penalty in 851 minutes on the pitch.

By the player’s own admission it was a ‘frustrating season’. “The 2018-2019 season is over,” he wrote on his blog. “The 2017-2018 season was also difficult, severe and frustrating.

“This season I had repeated injuries and was unable to continue playing in the game and was unable to leave any results.

“During the season, I think it was a difficult, tough, frustrating season looking back now.
I think I understand that I cannot get along well.

“The only thing I can have confidence is to feel that “growth” is possible every day.

“I would like to do my best again from here to connect the growth to the results!

“First of all, thank you for supporting one season!

“Thank you again from here! “Thank you.”

From that blog, it seems as if Asano is holidaying back at home in Japan where he’s spent some time with Shinji Kagawa at a training camp.

He also spent time with Sanfrecce Hiroshima although there doesn’t seem to be any talk of him moving there.

He has, however, been linked with moves to clubs in Serbia and I think at this point, given he’s now 24, it is highly unlikely he has a future at Arsenal.

Asano’s Arsenal contract expires next summer.