February 29, (THEWILL) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta announced on Thursday, that midfielder Thomas Partey is likely to return to the squad for their upcoming match against Sheffield United on Monday.
Partey has been sidelined for over four months due to injury problems, making only four English Premier League appearances this season.
Arteta told reporters that Partey completed two consecutive training sessions this week and should be available for selection against the Blades.
Other injured players like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are nearing a return but their availability for Monday is still uncertain. They will be assessed in the final training sessions on the weekend.
Forward Gabriel Jesus, who recently returned from a knee problem, came off the bench last Saturday against Newcastle. However, Arteta said the Brazilian is not yet ready for a full 90 minutes of action. The manager did not want to take any risks with Jesus’ fitness.
Ahead of the clash with bottom-placed Sheffield United, Arteta noted they are a well-organised side who are difficult to beat, especially given their desperate position in the relegation battle. Arsenal sit third in the table with much to play for, while the Blades are 11 points from safety with 13 points total.
Arteta said the match is “a big game for us,” as the Gunners seek to remain in contention for the title, currently trailing leaders Liverpool by two points with a match in hand. Meanwhile, United are looking to quickly escape the drop zone which they currently occupy.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
