Takehiro Tomiyasu has pulled out of the Japan squad due to injury, with the national team website confirming the news.

Takehiro Tomiyasu was forced off in the early stages of Arsenal’s match against Sporting CP on Thursday, seemingly picking up an injury as he slipped before making a challenge.

The JFA have now officially reported that Tomiyasu has withdrawn from the Japan squad for the upcoming international break, with Union SG’s Koki Machida replacing him.

The statement confirms that Tomiyasu is sidelined due to injury.

This is no great surprise, as the defender was seen leaving the Emirates Stadium on crutches earlier this week.

Even if further assessments reveal the problem to be less serious than initially feared, it’s better not to take any risks in the meantime.

After all, Japan are only playing friendly matches over the March international break.

Though it’s always good to test yourself against the likes of Uruguay and Colombia, it’s not worth risking further injury for a friendly.

It doesn’t look like that risk was ever on the cards anyway, with Mikel Arteta seemingly concerned that the injury could be long-term.

“Tomiyasu looks pretty serious from his reaction straight after and what he said to me, but obviously, it’s very early,” Arteta said in the immediate aftermath of the game.

Journalist Dan George then reported that Tomiyasu could be out for a while with a knee injury.

It’s too early for Tomiyasu’s withdrawal from the Japan squad to spell the worst, but it certainly means they aren’t expecting him to make a full recovery in the next few days.