Arsenal are set to face Manchester City in a crucial title clash on Sunday, and there are several decisions Mikel Arteta needs to make.
One key decision will be in midfield. Thomas Partey has recently returned from a long-term injury, and has stated his desire to help his team, but Jorginho has been in excellent form, whilst the Ghanaian is still some way off from full match fitness.
Partey looked rusty when he made his return against Sheffield United, and despite featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly, has perhaps not had enough match practice to warrant a start at the Etihad Stadium.
Arteta may be tempted to throw him in for his physicality in midfield, but this would represent a massive risk given his fitness.
Thomas Partey starting against Manchester City would be a huge risk for Arteta
Speaking on his YouTube channel, journalist Charles Watts claimed that Partey should not start, but will have a huge role to play from the bench in the important game against Man City.
“I just worry with Thomas, I just don’t think he’s fit enough to start this match,” he stated.
“I think he can still have a big part to play, I think he can play half an hour in the 2nd half and I think the substitutes are going to be really, really important, but I just haven’t seen enough for him to start.
“If Arsenal are confident enough for him to start – they’ve watched him in training, he got 60 minutes behind closed doors in the game against QPR.
“If Arteta and the coaching staff have been watching that, taking it all in, watched how he’s trained for the past fortnight at London Colney, and they decide to start him, then absolutely go for it. They will have obviously seen enough to suggest that he is strong enough and fit enough to start a game of this magnitude, that’s going to be played at this intensity.”
Thomas Partey is not ready to start for Arsenal
Arsenal need to ease Partey back into action, both for the sake of the team as well as for his own welfare.
The £200k-a-week star is at high risk of re-injury and has not built up enough match practice to start in what will be a hugely difficult game.
Jorginho may be more suited to this game anyway, given his calmness on the ball, and his previous experience in beating Man City, but Partey could step up his return against Luton in the following mid-week game.
Having Partey fully fit for the run-in will be massive, particularly for the Champions League, and risking both his fitness, as well as him potentially making mistakes as a result of a lack of match sharpness, would be a surprising move if Arteta chose to do it.
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