Arsenal have provided an update on the injury Thomas Partey sustained on Monday night during their 3-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
A statement on the club's official website read: "Our No. 5 was substituted during Monday night’s game against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park after aggravating his right thigh. Thomas has since received further assessments, and a subsequent scan has shown muscle damage to his right thigh.
"We will continue to assess Thomas in the coming weeks, during which time he will also receive further specialist consultations. Everyone will be working hard to get Thomas back on the pitch as soon as possible."
READ MORE: Games Thomas Partey could miss after Arsenal confirm major injury blow ahead of Brighton clash
Whilst there's no official timestamp on Partey's injury just yet, football.london reported on Wednesday that Partey had suffered a thigh strain similar to the one he picked up during last season's North London Derby defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That injury saw him miss four Arsenal games as he was sidelined for a total of 26 days. If it's indeed a similar injury, we can suspect that he'll be unavailable for around about the same amount of time, meaning he could miss most of April and the beginning of May.
The injury has left Arsenal fans bemused by Edu's decision not to sign anyone in the January transfer window. The Gunners allowed a number of players to leave the club permanently or on loan, but failed to reinvest in the squad in the hope that they had enough to get over the line in the race for the top four before reevaluating in the summer.
But Partey's injury - as well as the fact that Kieran Tierney is now out for the rest of the season - has cast major doubt over Mikel Arteta's side's chances of qualifying for the Champions League - and the Arsenal faithful are both worried and unhappy. Take a look at what's been said below.
@spAFC01 said: "This what happens when you gamble with a thin squad, Tomiyasu, Partey injuries could have been avoided with better man management and not gambling in January."
@Emray001 said: "Arsenal can't qualify for Champions League next season with all these injuries. KT and TP. Damn."
@AlvinOnyina24 said: "I cannot lie I’m not exactly feeling confident from now to the end of the season, we are doomed."
@COYG_Sibusiso said: "Muscle damage. It's up to my boy [Lokonga] to try and hold it down."
@Shakytucker: "So KT Partey and probably Tomi out for the season. 4th is getting more and more unlikely. I hope we do, but we have no back up now. Anymore injuries and we're ******."
@itskenri said: "This is why January transfer was important…we were really short with midfielders and strikers, we did nothing lol."
@berdyboy47 said: "This means Partey won't play for a few weeks. Horrible news with only just over a month left of the season."
@Soccerbits2 said: "That January transfer window is about to cost Arsenal big time."
The Gunners will look to recover from Monday night's embarrassment with a win over Brighton on Saturday. Victory should help to provide the momentum Arsenal need to finish above north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur as well as Manchester United in the table.
