Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says his side could be forced into the deadline day market after confirming that Thomas Partey’s is set for a longer spell on the side-lines.
Partey missed the games against Fulham on Saturday and Aston Villa last night after sustaining a thigh injury. But there is a further injury to Egyptian Mohammed Elneny who replaced him in the game with Fulham.
Asked if the latest setbacks are going to force his side into the transfer market, Arteta responded in the affirmative.
“Obviously, it has an impact because Thomas [Partey] is injured and we are a bit short in that position. We have Sambi and Granit can play there but we are looking at options in the market. The club has been super supportive to keep improving the squad and the team as we can, and if the right player is available and we can do it, we will try,” he said.
But the Arsenal manager said he is uncertain about how long the Ghanaian midfielder would be out, casting further doubt about the true extent of the injury.
“He’s going to be out for a while but we don’t know how long that period is going to be.”
Partey sustained a similar thigh injury last season at Crystal Palace and missed the last three games of the league as Arsenal missed out on a place in the top 4.
“Obviously, it’s not the first injury that he’s had in that area so it is a recurring injury, so it’s one for the doctors to put a timeline on it and see how he goes.”
The gunners started the new season a flier winning their first three matches with Partey featuring in central midfield but things changed dramatically in the midfield where only Granit Xhaka and Sambi Logonga are the only options left.
“We were pretty protected in that position and now we are more exposed, but we have to be more prepared for uncertainties. Injuries, suspensions and things like that can happen, especially this season which will be really strange with the World Cup. We’ll try to prevent things but sometimes it’s not easy.”
Meanwhile, several Arsenal and Ghanaian fans alike have expressed worry about the latest injury to the midfield dynamo.
Partey’s time at North London has been characterised by injuries as evidenced by the ankle injury he sustained in the game with Chelsea just before the 2020-21 season began, among others.
Many have highlighted the contrast between Partey’s resilient performances for Spanish giants Atletico Madrid compared to his injury ridden career at Arsenal. One wonders whether the situation may be due to the midfielders injuries not being given enough to heal before being rushed back to the field. A curious case arose when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pushed Partey back to the field of play as Tottenham Hotspurs counter attacked after Partey had reported to the sidelines injured in December 2021.
