Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given an update on Thomas Partey’s current fitness.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is currently sidelined with injury.
As a result, the Gunners will be without the Ghanaian when they take on Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon. His absence will mean that Mikel Arteta will be unable to deploy Partey at right-back, having experimented with this tactic earlier in the season.
Losing Partey to injury, whilst still a blow, is less of a problem for the Gunners this season than it has been in previous campaigns. The club-record £105 million signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United this summer has given Arsenal extra quality and depth in the middle of the park. As well as Rice, Jorginho can also be used at the base of the midfield.
Why Pele Is Overrated.
Such is Partey’s unreliability in fitness terms, there is an argument that Arsenal ought to have cashed in on the 30-year-old this summer.
MORE ARSENAL STORIES
Arteta shares Partey recovery schedule
Fortunately, though, it seems that the Gunners won’t be without Partey for too long on this occasion. Arteta has now provided a timeline for the £200,000-a-week player’s recovery and return to action at the Emirates Stadium.
As quoted by the club’s official website, the Spanish coach said, “he’s still a few weeks away. He’s got a muscle injury and he’s progressing well but he’s still a few weeks away.”
As well as today’s clash with Everton, the 45-cap Ghana international will miss Arsenal’s opening Champions League fixture of the season, and the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
He will miss further matches beyond that, but Arteta will hope that Partey is back in action when Arsenal host Manchester City on October 8th.
If Arsenal are to achieve their aims for this season, Partey will have a key role to play, and it is vital that he can make his himself available for as many matches as possible.