Arsenal may have been handed a huge boost with the return of Thomas Partey from injury ahead of their clash with Brentford on Saturday. The Ghanaian midfielder has been a key influence in the middle of the park for Mikel Arteta since his arrival, however his fitness concerns have caused issues along the way.
Since joining in 2020, the 29-year-old has missed a total of 36 competitive fixtures for the Gunners, underlying just how concerning his absence is. An injury towards the back end of last season during the crucial run in proved difficult to manage, however the input of Mohamed Elneny helped fill that void.
The Egyptian went on to earn a contract extension at the club, however when asked to fill in for Partey this season, he too suffered an injury that will keep him out for an extended period. It left Arteta with just a few hours in the transfer window to add a new face to the midfield ranks.
