Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits Thomas Partey’s persistent injury problems are becoming a major worry, with the midfielder likely to be out until December.
Partey has not started a Premier League game for the Gunners since picking up a groin problem in August. He returned to action off the bench in the win over Manchester City earlier this month, but then suffered another muscular problem ahead of last week’s Champions League trip to Sevilla and once again sidelined as Arteta prepares to take his side to West Ham in the last-16 of the Carabao Cup tomorrow.
"I think he will be out for weeks, I don’t know how long,” the Spaniard said on Tuesday morning. “He’s got another appointment today so we will see more after that.”
Partey arrived at Arsenal in the summer of 2020 with a superb fitness record from his time at Atletico Madrid but has increasingly been dogged by injury in recent seasons.
The Ghanaian’s absence during the run-in was a key factor in Arteta’s side missing out on a top-four finish at the end of 2021-22 campaign and while he started 28 league matches last term, he was missing for several key games, most notably league defeats to both Manchester clubs. The signings of Jorginho in January and then Declan Rice this summer have lessened Arsenal’s dependence on Partey but Arteta remains desperate to have the 30-year-old available more often.
“Yes, it’s a big concern,” he said. “Because when Thomas is fit and available and has been part of the team, we’ve seen what the results and the impact he has had on the team.
“This season we have more protection especially for that reason because we know in the last two seasons what has happened and the impact it has had on the team, so we had to address that.
“We are gutted for him but he needs to lift himself up again with our support and go again because he is a player that is critical for us.”
Arsenal are also without Gabriel Jesus for the trip to the London Stadium, though the Brazilian is expected to return sooner than Partey.
"We need to be cautious because we need to treat him in the right way,” Arteta said. “But he is already pushing everybody, he wants to be back as quick as possible and we need him so that’s great.”
Meanwhile, Arteta is also managing the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard, who has been struggling with a hip problem that may partly explain his poor run of recent form.
The Norwegian was rested for the 5-0 win over Sheffield United on Saturday and could sit out again at the London Stadium, but Arteta insists all of his players remain ready to play through the pain barrier.
“It’s impossible to play with no niggles in football,” he said. “At this level when you have games every three days, it’s impossible. If you try to do that, you better stay in bed because I don’t know any players who are constantly perfect to be in the best condition. You have to adapt to that.
“Every player is the same, they are all willing to push any boundary. We have players who are supposed to be out for six weeks and they were back in three-and-a-half or four weeks for big matches and made an incredible impact.
“We talked about changing the mentality, this is a big thing. Not only him, but all the physios and doctors pushing in the same direction, your teammates pushing you to demand you to be there because you are needed."
