Arsenal set for major Thomas Partey injury boost despite AFCON stance
Thomas Partey could give Arsenal a major boost by returning before the end of the month.
Partey has stepped up his rehabilitation work and could be in line to return to first team duty for Arsenal ’s trip to Nottingham Forest on January 30. Gunners midfielder Partey has missed the Africa Cup of Nations because of his ongoing thigh injury but that does not mean that he is unable to play for Arsenal before the end of the tournament.
Ghana boss Chris Hughton made it clear that they had good dialogue with Arsenal and realised that if they did pick Partey then he might not be available until after the group stage of AFCON. But Ghana would not attempt to block Partey playing for Arsenal as they have good relations and understand the midfielder has been recovering from undergoing a medical procedure on his thigh in November.
Partey also had a groin problem earlier in the season and this campaign has been disrupted after a string of injuries. But there has been no setback or delay and Partey is now ready to step up his recovery and that will give Mikel Arteta a much-needed boost.
Arsenal do not have any scope for any big deals in January and, despite being long term admirers of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, the only realistic signing might be a short-term loan deal for a defender.
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Partey was a revelation for Arsenal in the first half of last season and his availability does give Arteta the option of using him as a midfielder or right-back stepping into midfield. There was a hope he could return sooner in January but Arsenal could play safe with the Forest trip.
They are certain to look at strengthening the squad in the summer but they are not expecting any big deals in January unless they sell which looks increasingly unlikely.
Thomas Partey has struggled with injuries this season (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! How much of an impact will Thomas Partey's return make on Arsenal's season? Comment below.
Meanwhile, Arsenal also hope that Gabriel Jesus could also be back after the sunshine trip to Dubai as the knee issue which forced him to miss the FA Cup defeat to Liverpool is believed to be “minor.”
Speaking after the 2-0 defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday, Arteta said: “He had some pain in his knee. We have done a scan that shows something. Hopefully it’s not something big. It’s the same knee that he had (an injury on before), so we could not take any risks.”
Asked if Jesus’ setback changed the focus for the January transfer window, Arteta added: “One thing is what we need and another is what we can do.
"What we need to do now is stick behind those players, give them some love, train them and make sure they visualise something very different to what is actually happening now. They’ve done it. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel, because they’ve done it.”
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