Arsenal have been handed a huge concern as Mikel Arteta confirmed that Thomas Partey was taken off as an injury precaution against Manchester City. The midfielder was substituted for Albert Sambi Lokonga at half-time of the FA Cup clash in a substitution that raised eyebrows.
The Gunners went on to lose the clash with their Premier League title rivals, despite a spirited performance, with Nathan Ake's curled effort being the deciding factor. The north London outfit are now out of both domestic cups, with full focus ahead on the Premier League and Europe.
A potential injury to Partey could derail a few things for the Gunners though as Arteta confirmed a knock to the ribs in his post-match press conference: "He had some discomfort and it was getting worse and worse. He could not continue and he was not comfortable to continue. No initial diagnosis. Tomorrow, or the day after it will have to be an MRI scan and we’ll see what he has."
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It comes amid concerns over depth in the central ranks for the Gunners heading into the final few days of the January transfer window. Mohamed Elneny has missed the past few games and with Partey potentially facing some time on the sidelines, the need for depth is crucial.
"We need some more cover in midfield ideally if we can, but in this market it is pretty complicated to do that," Arteta said recently on his options in midfield. It puts the Spaniard in an almost identical situation to the summer, where he was missing both Elneny and Partey and went in search of a late bid for Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz, which failed on deadline day.
Options are being assessed as football.london understands the Gunners tabled a £60million bid for Brighton star Moises Caicedo that was rebuffed on Friday. While the Seagulls have often driven a hard bargain, there could be some hope that Arsenal may be able to land the Ecuadorian international.
Hours after the bid was rejected he took to social media with a statement on his future, claiming: "I am grateful to Mr. Bloom and Brighton for giving me the chance to come to the Premier League and I feel I have always done my best for them. I always play football with a smile and with heart.
"I am the youngest of 10 siblings from a poor upbringing in Santa Domingo in Ecuador. My dream always to be the most decorated player in the history of Ecuador. I am proud to be able to bring in a record transfer fee for Brighton which would allow them to reinvest it and help the club continue to be successful.
"The fans have taken me into their hearts and they will always be in my heart so I hope they can understand why I want to take up this magnificent opportunity."
It remains to be seen whether the statement or Partey's potential injury will change the course of the transfer market in the next few days.
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