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Arsenal hopeful that Thomas Partey will be fit for North London Derby
Arsenal are sweating over the fitness of midfielder Thomas Partey but there’s hope that he’ll be fit for Saturday’s North London Derby against Tottenham.
Partey is crucial to the Gunners, but injuries have prevented the Ghanaian midfielder from ever enjoying a sustained run in Mikel Arteta’s side. He’s struggled with a thigh injury at the start of the 2022/23, but his latest setback is believed to be a knee issue.
Partey returned to Arsenal action against Brentford before the international break and was called up to the Ghana squad for their September friendlies. However, after he didn’t play against Brazil, the midfielder dropped out of the squad and returned to London Colney to undergo a scan on his knee.
Thus, his status for the maiden North London Derby of the season is in doubt.
Arsenal hopeful that Thomas Partey will be fit for North London Derby
🚨| Arsenal are hopeful Thomas Partey will be fit in time for the north London derby on Saturday lunchtime.
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 27, 2022
Partey is back at Arsenal after leaving the Ghana squad after picking up a minor knee injury in the warm up shortly before their friendly against Brazil. pic.twitter.com/MweyHAdNYK
Upon Partey’s return to north London, Ghana boss Otto Addo supplied Arsenal fans with optimism over the midfielder’s status for the upcoming derby.
“Hopefully Thomas will be healthy very, very soon,” Addo told reporters as he confirmed that Partey’s absence against Brazil was merely precautionary.
“We didn’t want to take that risk in a friendly game to play him against Brazil, but surely playing a player like him against a squad like Brazil would have been helpful”
Considering the distinct counter-attacking threat Tottenham boast, Arsenal desperately need Partey fully fit for Saturday. With Mohamed Elneny still sidelined, Sambi Lokonga would likely deputise for the Ghanaian if his knee injury rules him out.
While Lokonga has impressed in possession and has plenty of potential, he’s yet to mature out of possession and Manchester United made the most of the young Belgian’s presence at the base of midfield to hand Arsenal their first defeat of the season last month.
As it stands, Partey’s status for the North London Derby is in doubt, but the club are hopeful that he’ll line up for the Gunners on Saturday.