Arsenal’s big-money summer signing has missed the last two games through injury ahead of Sunday’s north London derby.
Mikel Arteta has revealed Thomas Partey is ‘really pushing’ to recover from his thigh injury and will undergo another scan to determine his availability to face Tottenham on Sunday.
The Ghanian midfielder, who arrived in the summer from Atletico Madrid in a €50m transfer, hasn’t featured since coming off midway into the club’s 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on November 8.
Partey spent the international break recovering from his injury, and is still doing everything he can to make himself available for selection.
Still no date set by Arsenal for Thomas Partey's return. Not even for training.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) December 2, 2020
“He has been training separately in the last week or so,” said Arteta as quoted on Goal.
“We have to scan him again to see how he is feeling. He is a player that is so willing, that is pushing us every day because he wants to do it.
“At the same time, we have to protect and make sure that when he gets back in the team he is ready to do that and whatever extent of minutes we can use him.
“So this week is going to be crucial, the moment he starts to train in parts with the team. See how he is feeling and how he is evolving day to day.”
Arsenal will first meet Rapid Wien for a Europa League match on Thursday before heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium three days later.
Asked if Partey stands a chance of playing his first north London derby this weekend, Arteta replied: “We don’t know.
“Again, he is really pushing. Every day he is trying to get around the doctor and the physios. He hasn’t trained with the team yet. So this week let’s see if he can get a session or two.
“We need to scan him again to see the extent of the injury and how it has healed. I know if it is, Thomas wants to play tomorrow! Then we have to see medically that he is safe to participate this week at all.”
David Luiz, on the other hand, could be available for Arsenal despite suffering a head injury against Wolves last weekend.
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