Mikel Arteta Provides Grim Update On Thomas Partey’s Fitness

Thomas Partey has suffered another injury…

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey has once again picked up a muscular injury after the midfielder didn’t travel with the squad to Sevilla, he told TNT Sports.

Partey was seen training with the group on Monday morning before they flew out to Spain, though only part of the session was available to the media.

The 30-year-old only just returned from a thigh injury after six weeks on the sidelines and was allowed to travel with Ghana for a pair of friendlies in America.

The former Atletico Madrid man played a total of around 100 minutes across the two games with Arsenal sending physio Simon Murphy with him to the camp.

It’s another deflating setback in an Arsenal career that has been littered with injuries and while we’re less reliant on the Ghanaian following the arrival of Declan Rice, we could use him in the upcoming busy schedule.

“Thomas [Partey] picked up an injury yesterday in training, unfortunately it’s a muscle injury,” the boss told the broadcaster (via Connor Humm).

“We don’t know the extent of it. A big miss for us.”

Regardless of the latest diagnosis, it’s now clear to see why reports were rife during the summer that Arsenal were going to entertain offers for the midfielder.

Partey was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, while Juventus were also said to be interested but cannot conjure up the sort of package it would take to entice us to sell.

Availability is the best ability and there’s nothing more infuriating than a quality player – on huge wages – that we can’t rely on.