Mikel Arteta Expresses Uncertainty and Concern Regarding Thomas Partey’s Injury

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey’s injury setback is cause for concern, as the midfielder is still a long way from returning. The Ghana international last played against Manchester City in October after sustaining a thigh injury, and his recovery time is yet to be confirmed.

Arteta said: “With Thomas unfortunately we had a little setback a few days ago. He’s not going to be available in the squad. We’ll see if it’s a matter of days of weeks. But he had a little thing, i’m not a doctor, but he felt something in a very similar area and he wasn’t able to train the last few days.”

“It’s a big concern because he is such an important player for us. He was getting some momentum at the start of the season and then we lost him for a while. Now it has been a long time without him.”

Arteta stated that Gabriel Jesus practiced with the team throughout the week, but Partey’s absence continues to limit his options ahead of Liverpool’s visit on Sunday.

Partey began the season splitting his minutes between central midfield and a new inverted role at right back. However, since joining Arsenal in 2020, the 30-year-old has missed 66 matches for club and country, compared to only seven for his previous club Atletico.

Arteta adds: “He gives us something different that no other player can give us in the squad so he will be a miss. They have been different kind of injuries but not everything is bad luck. There are a lot of things that are difficult to control.”

“Obviously the player has a history as well when he had some issues in the past so we have to try to protect him and do everything that we can to avoid it again.”