Injuries have been a major pain for Mikel Arteta as the club chase Champions League qualification this season. Key players have been lost and the depth of the squad has been seriously tested in their wake.
Arsenal and Arteta managed to beat both Chelsea and Manchester United despite losing Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu prior to kick-off. The latter returned for the United match with a small cameo and will be welcomed back into the fold.
The other hopeful returnee has been Partey. After suffering a reoccurrence of a groin injury that saw him miss a huge portion of last season, he agitated the problem in the defeat to Crystal Palace.
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This was a massive blow to Arsenal’s top-four hopes however, the Ghanaian has since provided hope that he could return ahead of schedule.
The 28-year-old posted a video of him running on a treadmill which naturally sparked plenty of optimism about an early return. Arteta has already said that the likelihood is that he will miss the rest of the season.
"The news that we got after having another assessment is not great," Arteta said in his pre-match press conference. "It’s not looking very positive for his availability this season, but we’ll have to wait and see. He’s trying to get back as quick as possible but at the moment we are not very optimistic about it."
However, Partey has characteristically taken time to return to full match fitness when coming back. Even if he was passed fit, there would be a worry that his output wouldn’t provide Arsenal with the right performance at a crucial point of the season.
Mohamed Elneny’s return however has been brilliant. The Egyptian international has been a calming presence in the midfield, and it was not noticeable against Chelsea and United that Partey was absent.
Arteta had only positive words for Elneny. The focus now for the Spaniard will be on whether he deserves a new deal.
“I have always said that for me he’s one of the most important players in the squad. For what he does when you give him the chance to play and for the things that he does when he doesn’t play. He’s a phenomenal person and a great footballer that sometimes doesn’t get the credit he deserves,” Arteta said.
Talks are planned for the end of the season, but it is understood that the six-year stalwart of the squad wishes to continue. He sees the Gunners as his home and if he is wanted, he will remain. Arsenal could perhaps need his talents even should they qualify for the Champions League and strengthen their midfield options this summer.
