Arsenal have been handed a major injury concern as key midfielder Thomas Partey has flown home from international duty with Ghana to have further tests on a potential injury after he missed his country’s second international fixture.
The midfielder has been a key player for the Gunners this season, so much so that the Gunners sent a physio with him on international duty to ensure that he wouldn’t pick up anything serious.
But after playing 90 minutes in the first game of the international break, Ghana boss Chris Houghton revealed that the 29-year-old would miss out on the second after picking up a knock.
“Thomas has some small injury issues,” Houghton said. “We felt it was too big a risk to start him.”
The Gunners return to Premier League action this Saturday against Leeds United, looking to uphold their 8 points lead at the top of the table, though Manchester City chasing do have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta’s side.
As per GOAL, ‘The former Atletico Madrid star felt something in his right leg during a training session with his country on Sunday’, though they add that ‘Sources close to the player insist it is not a hamstring issue and believe he should be fine for Saturday’s game at Emirates Stadium.’
After the clash with Leeds, Arteta and his side face a mammoth showdown with Liverpool at Anfield, which they may prefer to keep Thomas Partey fresh for rather than risk him making his injury worse.
Should they do so, it would be Jorginho that stepped into the role at the base of the Arsenal midfield, with the Italian having impressed since his January move from Chelsea.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/xlmedia/75056cb2-70a2-47ac-a9bf-dc86877bc260.png)
