Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Kieran Tierney will join up with Scotland for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers but it remains to be seen whether the club will release Thomas Partey to play for Ghana.
The midfielder was absent from Arsenal’s squad for Sunday’s 1-0 win over Watford due to a tight groin and is now a doubt for the Black Stars’ World Cup qualifiers with Ethiopia and South Africa.
“Let’s see what happens with Thomas,” said Arteta on Sunday night.
“He wasn’t available to play today. He’s got a muscle injury, and we don’t know how it’s going to evolve, so let’s take it day by day.”
Partey scored in consecutive games for his country against Zimbabwe in the last Interlull and is viewed as an integral part of his country’s midfield. Given the home game with Bafana Bafana is a crunch top-of-the-table clash, you can imagine they’ll want him available.
It’s possible there could be a trade-off between both parties. It’s currently unclear when clubs will be asked to release their players for January’s African Cup of Nations in Cameroon although some reports have suggested there might be an obligation to do so as soon as Boxing Day. Assuming Partey actually recovers, Arsenal could potentially leverage this situation to ask for that date to be pushed back a little.
We’ll see…we’re just speculating.
As for Tierney, Arteta added: “Kieran is going to go with the Scotland squad. He was training inside the [Emirates] stadium today, and he will go with Scotland.”
The boss also touched on the decision to select Nuno Tavares ahead of Tierney for the Watford clash.
“Nuno is playing because he deserves to play,” said Arteta. “He’s been exceptional in all the performances where he has been given the opportunity. But I cannot say anything different with Kieran, Kieran has been superb for us.
“Kieran has been injured, he came back two days ago to do his first full training session. This is what we need – two top players that are raising the level in their position – and I’m happy with that.”
Arsenal’s First Team November Interlullers
Bernd Leno – Germany
Aaron Ramsdale – England
Karl Hein – Estonia
Kieran Tierney – Scotland
Takehiro Tomiyasu – Japan
Nuno Tavares – Portugal under-21s
Sead Kolasinac – Bosnia & Herzegovina
Thomas Partey – Ghana (TBC)
Bukayo Saka – England
Martin Odegaard – Norway
Emile Smith Rowe – England under-21s
Albert Lokonga – Belgium
Mo Elneny – Egypt
Nicolas Pepe – Ivory Coast
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon
Flo Balogun – England under-21s
International football is such a conundrum. On one hand, you don’t want Arsenal players to be involved so they don’t get injured. On the other, you want them selected cuz that shows that they’re pedigree.
I’m glad we have 7 of the starting 11 plus Pepe, Odegaard, Sambi and Elneny from usual subs bench back playing internationals. 2-3 years of not having anyone or just one or two from Arsenal was depressing
Like Harry Maguire!!?
Just happy for the lads really. Quite impressive that so many of our young players are already full internationals with a few others looking to break through in the next few interlulls.
Will I be as pleased if any of them come back injured. No, I’ll question the very existence & need for international football. But let’s cross that bridge if & when.
Thomas Partey missing this international break could be huge for us. Having him ready as well as Lacazette, AMN, Ben White and Gabriel fully rested means we could have a real chance at Anfield.
It has been a long time since I’ve agreed with a suggestion like having a chance at Anfield!
Gabriel just got called up, unfortunately for us. Happy for him though, and well deserved. Liverpool are a totally different prospect without Firmino – three points for the taking!!
UPDATE:
Gabriel’s been called up!
Oh what a beautiful interlull.
Hoping Partey misses out on the Bafana class. Gets us in with a shout of qualifying and gets Arsenal’s midfield rested up.
I was thinking the same thing, I was worried about our chances in this game given Partey’s form for Ghana. Really hoping he doesn’t travel (but also isn’t injured)
As soon as I saw Partey wasn’t in the line up for watford, I thought this was a classic case of player & manager agreeing that the player is suffering from a minor injury with said player miraculously recovering from the injury immediately after the international break.
I may just be old & cynical (& it definitely sucks for Ghana) but I’m hoping this is the case
Another interlull already! I hate the current system of constant qualifiers punctuating the domestic league seasons, so bloody boring.
Laca has been the key to our resurgence, otherwise we would have crystal palace like performances
Seeing the success that Palace are enjoying under Paddy V, that point we got against them is looking better with the benefit of hindsight than it did at the time.
And, although they have stumbled recently, the way Brentford played–against Liverpool for example–makes our loss there (which came as covid unexpectedly forced both Aubameyang and Lacazette out) a little more understandable.
3 current international goalkeepers, how many teams can claim that!
3 leftback internationals too if you include under 21s
Estonia play at Belgium and the Czech Republic. Hein will not be bored.
Bonkers that Emile is still at u21 level. He is far, far better than that.
Hold on. He has just been called up!
Gareth read my post.
9 of the sure starters against Liverpool are on international duties. Only White and Laca are not going.
I am on my knees praying: may they all come back unscathed. I have a feeling we’ll have more than 20 points after the final whistle at Anfield if we have our team intact.
Hey that’s my country. Zimbabwe. Yay
Tavares really taking his chances showing some mettle going forward. Would be excellent to also have Tierney in contention. Partey will be welcome sight coming back in. Just feel we need a bit of experience and composure. That said neither young player Sambi or AMN disgraced themselves by any means. Nor does Partey mean absolutely full proof either. Work in progress in the engine room. I don’t think any of the midfielders are lacking in effort or improvements. Just STILL feel we got in wrong in the summer wasting so much on White and neglecting to take in someone who… Read more »