Arsenal handed huge fitness blow before Man Utd clash

The Ghana Football Association have revealed that Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has suffered an injury in training which will rule him out of September’s international fixtures.

Partey has started each of Arsenal’s three Premier League games so far this season, operating in a new inverted full-back role, and was expected to retain his place when the Gunners take on Manchester United on Sunday.

However, Ghana have now ruled Partey out of action for the next few weeks with a groin problem.

“Arsenal ace Thomas Partey is left out of the squad due to injury,” a Ghana statement read. “According to his club, the player picked up an injury in training and could be on the sidelines for a while, however, the Black Stars medical teams is monitoring the situation.”

To confuse matters, Arsenal released images on Saturday of the team in training and Partey was spotted in those pictures, but it appears as though they were taken earlier in the week.

A follow-up statement from Ghana added: “He sustained a groin injury during training on Thursday, August 31, 2023. He is currently unavailable as Club Doctors predict he’s likely to be out for a couple of weeks.”

Partey’s injury will come as a significant blow to Arteta, who is already without summer signing Jurrien Timber in the position.

To cope with Partey’s absence, Arteta will likely revert to last season’s defence, with Ben White switching from centre-back out to the right and Gabriel Magalhaes coming back in to partner William Saliba.

Gabriel was a star of last season’s defence but has played just 24 minutes so far this season, coming off the bench in the first two games before going unused in the 2-2 draw with Fulham.

“I don’t know if he understands but I told him,” Arteta said last week when asked to explain his limited use of Gabriel. “I think he understands the reason, whether he agrees or not, that’s something different. But the best way to do it is when you play, just tell me how blind and wrong I am.”