Since the arrival of Thomas Partey at Arsenal the midfielder has experienced numerous injury problems which have plagued his Gunners career. Having missed just seven games for Atletico Madrid in more than five years in the senior squad, Partey has been unavailable for 39 Arsenal games, more than a full Premier League season, with seven separate issues.
His most recent absence saw him miss the critical clash against Manchester City which Arsenal’s title rivals lost 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. There has been frustration behind why suddenly after so few issues in Spain did Partey then have these consistent issues.
After scoring in the dramatic 3-2 win over Bournemouth, football.london spoke to the 29-year-old. Asked about the frustration of missing so many games, Partey admitted that there was one key factor behind the missed fixtures.
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“Well, I think it’s adaption. If you go from a different league, normal things happen," the midfielder said.
“I am working on everything, I am trying my best. I am trying to help the team any time I can. When I am ready and fit, I will be ready to help the team.”
Partey is so often seen as the irreplaceable figure in the team. The control he brought to the game on Saturday was clear and it was the perfect example of how his introduction since 2020 has given Arsenal the individuals who can be the protagonists to galvanise performances.
That said, since the January transfer window the presence of Jorginho has certainly eased the burden and responsibility. The Italian has started the past four games and stood out for his control, progression and game-winning strike against Aston Villa.
And yet, Partey’s influence in the win over Bournemouth still felt that little bit greater despite how impressive Jorginho has been. He missed the end of last season and unsurprisingly the Gunners fell short of Champions League qualification.
If there is a hope that a league title could be won, Partey’s availability for the remainder of the season is sure to be absolutely crucial, even with Jorginho’s presence. Fingers will be crossed he faces no further injury issues.
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