Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu is set to play in the AFC Asian Cup with Japan, with the tournament kicking off this afternoon.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 28: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team's fifth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal celebrates after scoring the team’s fifth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

The AFC Asian Cup kicked off on Friday afternoon, with hosts Qatar taking on Lebanon in the tournament opener.

Arsenal have one representative at the tournament, with Takehiro Tomiyasu receiving a call-up from Japan, who are in Group D of the tournament.

Japan are joined in their group by Indonesia, Iraq, and Vietnam, and their fixtures are as follows:

  • Sunday, 14th January – Japan vs Vietnam
  • Friday, 19th January – Iraq vs Japan
  • Wednesday, 24th January – Japan vs Indonesia
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 09: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Japan lines up during the international friendly match between Germany and Japan at Volkswagen Arena on September 09, 2023 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY: Takehiro Tomiyasu of Japan lines up during the international friendly match between Germany and Japan at Volkswagen Arena on September 09, 2023. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

The top two teams from each group will progress, along with four of the best third-placed finishers from the six groups. That’s a total of 16 teams progressing from the 24-team group stage.

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Given Japan are currently the favourites to win the entire tournament, they should at least be able to make it out of their group.

Their schedule for the rest of the tournament would depend on their group finish.

The round-of-16 matches take place from January 28th to January 31st, the quarter-finals take place on February 2nd and 3rd, the semi-finals on February 6th and 7th, and the final on February 10th.

Which Arsenal matches will Tomiyasu miss?

Arsenal's Japanese defender #18 Takehiro Tomiyasu reacts prior to the English League Cup third round football match between Brentford and Arsenal at the Brentford Community Stadium in London on September 27, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu reacts prior to the English League Cup third round football match between Brentford and Arsenal at the Brentford Community Stadium in London on September 27, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The number of Arsenal matches Tomiyasu misses will depend on how far Japan make it in the tournament.

If Japan suffer a shock elimination in the group stage, Tomiyasu would only miss the match against Crystal Palace.

If Japan make it to the round of 16, Tomiyasu will also miss Arsenal’s trip to Nottingham Forest on January 30th.

If Japan make it to the quarter-final, Tomiyasu will miss Arsenal’s match against Liverpool on February 4th.

If Japan make it to the semi-final, Tomiyasu would be a serious doubt to play in Arsenal’s match against West Ham United on February 11th, and if they made the final then he’d certainly miss that match.

So at a minimum, Tomiyasu will miss the match against Crystal Palace. But he could end up missing four matches if Japan go all the way in the tournament.

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