In the Premier League’s Matchday 23, Arsenal will take on Jürgen Klopp’s high-flying Liverpool at their home, the Emirates Stadium, on Sunday. Previously, both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw following a controversial handball decision involving Martin Ødegaard, in the first leg of this fixture at Anfield.
As the Gunners prepare to host the league leaders, their boss Mikel Arteta has ruled out Ghanaian international Thomas Partey ahead of the captivating clash. The midfielder’s return from injury has been delayed further after facing fresh injury woes at a crucial stage of the season.
When will Thomas Partey return to Arsenal from injury?
Since October 2023, Thomas Partey has been out of action due to a hamstring injury, limiting his appearances to just five matches for Arsenal across all competitions and causing him to spend most of the season receiving medical treatment. Earlier reports had suggested that he was expected to return to training by the end of January.
Moreover, the midfielder also missed out on the Ghana national squad for the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 due to a muscular problem that caused him a major setback. Partey has represented his national team in the previous three editions of the AFCON and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The recent injury setback has further delayed the return of the 30-year-old and hindered his recovery process, even though he was observed participating in first team training just a week prior.
Previously, the Ghanaian midfielder was sidelined for Arsenal’s last league match against Nottingham Forest. Now, he has also been declared out for the anticipated comeback match against Liverpool, which many had speculated would mark his return.
Mikel Arteta talks on Thomas Partey’s latest setback
Ahead of their decisive fixture against current league leaders Liverpool, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta commented on Thomas Partey’s injury situation and effectively ruled out his participation in the game.
He stated, “Unfortunately, Thomas had a minor setback a few days ago. He won’t be available for the squad. We’ll see if it’s a matter of days or weeks. But he had a little thing. I’m not a doctor, but he felt something in a very similar area and he wasn’t able to train the last few days.”
“A big concern because he is such an important player for us. He was getting some momentum at the start of the season and then we lost him for a while. He gives us something different that no other player can give us in the squad so he will be a miss,” he added.
This Game will be the third clash between the two sides in a relatively short period. Arsenal is seeking to redeem themselves after their previous 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup, a loss that led to their exit from the competition in January.
