Thomas Partey is set to make his Arsenal return against Brentford on Sunday. The Ghanaian has reportedly returned to training and has been reintegrated with the group.
Having missed the 2-1 win over Fulham after pulling up with what has become a recurring thigh issue in training, Mikel Arteta was forced to use Mohamed Elneny, prior to his own injury, and then Albert Sambi Lokonga in his stead for the Arsenal midfield.
The drop-off in the quality of player without Partey in the team is significant. This is why Arsenal bought him, to have a top-class midfield option to progress them toward their goals, however, with such a poor history of injuries at the club this return could be crucial to deciding the club’s future in the position.
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Arsenal looked to bring in Douglas Luiz on deadline day but failed. However, it was a clear sign of the willingness to invest in the position and there is expectation the Gunners will go back into the market in either January or the summer to find the required quality.
I have stressed before that Arsenal need to find their version of Fabinho or Rodri that both Liverpool and Manchester City have been able to find. Not an easy task by any means but certainly a necessary one, especially if Partey’s latest return is again short-lived.
However, the options out there aren’t particularly broad and of those that would bring the desired quality, the relative price tags are very high. That said, Arsenal would need to recognise that these players cost big money, hence why both Fabinho and Rodri cost their respective clubs a serious fee.
But for Partey the pressure is now on this return. Arsenal have begun the season excellently and ensuring their starting midfield anchor remains part of the team will be paramount.
After the Brentford game on Sunday, the international break will see Partey join his Ghanaian compatriots. Arteta will hope he returns free of any additional afflictions.
But then the Gunners enter the month of October with as many as nine games scheduled in that month alone, with three more games in the 12 days of November before the World Cup preparation begins.
Rotation with Lokonga will need to be managed acutely but also ensure that Partey remains active. Arsenal have seen Partey struggle to return to top form after an injury if not given more immediate minutes on the field.
Last season, Arteta started Partey in the League Cup game against Wimbledon in September to many people’s surprise. Questions were levelled at the decision due to a potential unnecessary risk being taken.
However, this start helped Partey to find his feet early before starting 23 of the next 25 league games. He missed the final nine games of the season, a run that would prove damning to the Gunners’ Champions League hopes.
The importance to this Arsenal team in Partey was unrivalled, arguably until the arrival of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer. Others like Aaron Ramsdale and Bukayo Saka seem equally indispensable, however, for the Gunners to match their expectation, Partey is an absolute must-have in the side.
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