Arsenal have now given Thomas Partey and Oleksandr Zinchenko a deadline to prove the pair have overcome their recent injury issues to face Sheffield United on Monday.
A trip to Bramall Lane awaits the Gunners next in their push for the 2023/24 Premier League title. Arsenal brought the deficit to Liverpool at the top of the table back down to two points with a 4-1 win against Newcastle United. But they won without Partey and Zinchenko, again.
Manager Mikel Arteta has not included Partey in a top-flight matchday squad since October. The 30-year-old has also only played 15 minutes in the Premier League since August after developing a thigh injury in training. It even came soon after he returned from a groin injury.
Partey and Zinchenko could return from injury at Sheffield United
Zinchenko, meanwhile, has missed Arsenal’s last three matches owing to a calf injury. Arteta last unleashed the left-back when Liverpool visited Emirates Stadium at the start of February and the Gunners won 3-1. But Arteta had to replace Zinchenko at half-time due to the injury.
The 27-year-old is very much the north Londoners’ first-choice left-back when he is fit after starting in 17 of his 21 matches so far this season. Arteta has since had to rely on centre-half Jakub Kiwior to fill in. But football.london notes that he and Partey are now close to a return.
Arsenal welcomed Gabriel Jesus back to their matchday side against Newcastle on Saturday after his knee injury but Partey and Zinchenko are not far behind. The Gunners’ medical staff will now spend from Tuesday to Sunday assessing the pair ahead of visiting Sheffield United.
Partey has missed 21 of Arsenal’s 26 Premier League games so far
Arteta gave the Arsenal team two days off after beating Newcastle, so Partey, Zinchenko and co will only return to London Colney on Tuesday. The injury-hit duo will also get until Sunday to show they are fit with the Gunners travelling to Bramall Lane for a Monday night meeting.
A return to their team at Sheffield United is probable for Partey, too, as Arteta stated he was ‘very close’ for the Newcastle game. The Spaniard further noted that Zinchenko was ‘not far’ away from a return ‘at all’. So, the coach could now get a welcome boost away to the Blades.
Having Partey back will certainly boost Arteta’s spirits having missed the midfielder through injury for 21 of Arsenal’s 26 Premier League games this season now. The 45-cap Ghana star Yaya Toure calls ‘unbelievable’ has further started three of his four outings for 251 minutes.
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