October 16, (THEWILL0 – Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has received a fitness boost ahead of the Gunners’ clash with Chelsea on October 21, with midfielder, Thomas Partey, avoiding a recurrence of his recent groin injury while on international duty with Ghana.
Partey was substituted at half-time during Ghana’s friendly against Mexico over the weekend, prompting concerns that he had aggravated the groin problem that kept him out for six Arsenal games prior to making a 15-minute cameo appearance in the Gunners’ 1-0 win over Manchester City.
However, Ghana boss, Chris Houghton, confirmed it was always the plan to give Partey just 45 minutes of action as he continues to build up match sharpness after his layoff. “Thomas was always only going to play 45 minutes,” Houghton explained. “He has been out injured for three to four weeks.”
The 29-year-old is now expected to be available for selection when Arsenal travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. Arteta does have a decision to make over where to deploy Partey, who had been filling in at right-back this season prior to injury.
Summer signing, Declan Rice, took Partey’s preferred central midfield berth, with Ben White slotting in at full-back during the Ghana international’s absence. Defender William Saliba has also been carrying a toe problem but is not facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
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.
