Arsenal send the club’s physio to Ghana with Thomas Partey in a desperate bid to ensure the key midfielder avoids injury on international duty so he can stay fit for the Premier League title race.
- The 29-year-old Ghanaian star is expected to face Angola in back-to-back matches.
- Partey has formed a vital partnership with Granit Xhaka in Arsenal’s midfield
- The Gunners suffered two of their three losses in Partey’s absence this season
Arsenal have sent the club’s physio to Ghana with Thomas Partey in a desperate bid to ensure the key midfielder avoids injury on international duty.
The Gunners moved eight points away from Manchester City with a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, although the reigning champions have one game to play.
The win over Palace was the Gunner’s last game before the international break.
The 29-year-old Ghanaian star is expected to face Angola in back-to-back matches on March 23-27 as qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations continues.
To ensure Partey is fit for the Premier League title race, Simon Murphy has been commissioned to oversee him in Africa.
Thomas Partey, 29, is expected to start for Ghana against Angola in back-to-back matches
He has formed a vital pairing with Granit Xhaka in the center of Mikel Arteta’s midfield
Partey has formed a vital partnership with Granit Xhaka in Mikel Arteta’s midfield center this season, featuring in 23 of their 28 matches.
Ghana manager Chris Hughton, who was previously the head coach of Norwich and Brighton, described his importance to both club and country.
He said: ‘Partey’s role in the team is as a continuity player, he’s not the guy who’s going to dribble past multiple players.
“His role is important to what the team does, even if he doesn’t always stand out.
“Sometimes, as football fans, we assume that a player must necessarily fit into the framework we have of him in an A team or in a B team.
“The roles of Partidoy both in the club and in the country are different from each other, but key.”
Partey has missed five Arsenal Premier League games through injury this season, with the Gunners suffering two of their three defeats in his absence.
Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in September, while they lost by the same scoreline in their absence to City in February.
Partey was also substituted a minute before the Gunners conceded in a 1-0 loss to Everton in February.
Arsenal have already taken an injury hit with the Premier League leaders confirming that Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Tomiyasu, who has played 21 league games this season, underwent surgery on Tuesday.
Ghana manager Chris Hughton (right) described Partey’s importance to both club and country.
A club statement said: “After his substitution during last Thursday’s Europa League game, subsequent assessments confirmed that Takehiro Tomiyasu suffered a significant injury to his right knee.”
‘Tomi underwent successful surgery in London on Tuesday and will be ruled out for the remainder of this season.
“Everyone at the club will now work hard with Tomi, so that he can join pre-season training before next season.”
Key central defender William Saliba also missed Arsenal’s 4-1 win against Crystal Palace after taking a hit against Sporting.