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Thomas Partey Injury Update: Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta hopes the midfielder will be available for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Lens.
The Ghana international has returned to full training one month after suffering the injury, which was revealed just before Arsenal’s match against Manchester United on September 3.
Partey’s training injury was reported by the Ghana FA before Arsenal verified the diagnosis, and he has subsequently missed all six of Arsenal’s games this season.
The former Atletico Madrid man was due to return to the squad in late October. However, he has made significant progress in his recovery and began full training on Monday morning.
Speaking to football.london before of his team’s departure to France, which was postponed owing to bad weather in London, Arteta said that Partey might perhaps make his comeback at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis if the scenario warrants it.
“He’s progressed really well in the last two weeks and he managed to train in the last two or three days with the team and that’s great news for us obviously,” added the Spaniard.
“I believe his progress in the last week has been very positive.” Depending on how the game goes tomorrow, he might get some playing time. He’s a major contributor, and we know what he offers to the club.
“He knows exactly what we need, and with the injuries we’ve had in midfield and at the back, he complements us well and gives us options.
“So it’s wonderful to have him back.”
Despite the acquisition of Declan Rice in a £105 million deal over the summer, Partey was a regular in Arteta’s starting lineup at the start of the season, even filling in as an inverted right-back on a couple of occasions.
Thomas Partey | Mikel Arteta’s injury boost for the midfielder
The 30-year-old has struggled with fitness concerns since joining Arsenal, but he has now made over 100 appearances for the club, scoring five goals and setting up four more.
Partey’s return to squad training was one of three fitness improvements for Arteta ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus also passing the session unscathed after picking up bruises in their side’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth.
Saka scored his team’s first goal after being cleared to play after hobbling off against Tottenham Hotspur. However, he was once more in pain and trudged out at the Vitality Stadium.
Arteta, on the other hand, has allayed fears of a significant problem for the Englishman, saying, “He’s great. He’s a lot better now. He took a big hit, but he recovered quickly and practiced with us today.”
Arsenal should only be without Gabriel Martinelli and Jurrien Timber for Tuesday’s encounter owing to hamstring and ACL injuries, respectively, thanks to Leandro Trossard’s recovery from a muscle ailment.
Arsenal kicked off Group B with a 4-0 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven, while Lens earned a point in a 1-1 draw away to Europa League holders Sevilla.
