Mikel Arteta confirms Thomas Partey return, three more could return on Monday
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that midfielder Thomas Partey should return for the Premier League trip to Sheffield United on Monday night.
The Ghana international has had an injury-plagued campaign and he has managed just five appearances this season.
The £45 million signing has been sidelined for the last four months, but Arteta has revealed that he will be available for the visit of Bramall Lane next week.
Speaking in today’s presser, the manager said that Partey has had two or three consecutive sessions in training. He should be part of the squad on Monday.
He said live via Arsenal.com: “Yeah, Thomas had a session before the last game and now he’s done two or three consecutive sessions. He should be part of the squad on Monday.”
Meanwhile, Arteta added that Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are among those that need to be assessed. They might be available against Sheffield.
He added: “Those ones it’s possible but we’ll have to wait and see. If that’s the case they might be available on Monday.”
However, the game will come too soon for Jurrien Timber, who has only recently returned to first-team training after a surgery for a long-term knee injury.
He further said: “Sorry Jurrien is still not close enough to be part of the squad on Monday.”
Arsenal have been in sensational form in the Premier League with six straight wins. They will be favourites to make it seven in a row against a struggling Sheffield outfit.
The Blades have conceded 2.53 goals per game in their top-flight return. Arteta will be eyeing another resounding victory to boost the club’s goal difference further.
The Gunners currently have the best GD with +39 on the back of 25 goals from the last six outings.
The club could leapfrog both Liverpool and Manchester City with a win if other results go their way.
Arsenal are one point behind Manchester City while they are trailing Liverpool by two points.
Liverpool face a testing challenge at Nottingham Forest with their vast injuries. City also have a tricky game on their hands against arch-rivals Manchester United.
The return of Partey, Zinchenko and Tomiyasu is a huge boost for the Gunners. None of them may start as Arteta could stick with an unchanged line-up on Monday.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
