Mikel Arteta says Thomas Partey is not fit enough to be part of Arsenal’s squad for tomorrow’s visit to Nottingham Forest and he says Declan Rice and Gabriel Magalhaes, who both limped out of the Gunners’ last match 10 days ago, are facing late fitness tests.
While Partey was pictured taking part in full training sessions last week, it sounds as though the Ghana international is still some way short of being match-fit.
The 30-year-old required a procedure on his thigh after picking up an injury in October and also missed an earlier chunk of the season with a groin problem.
“We’ve got some late decisions to make,” Arteta told his press conference on Monday.
“Thomas won’t be one of those, but we have a few that obviously we had some issues at the end of last game and we’re still uncertain with a few players.
“Thomas is not in the squad. It is what it is, you want everybody available and he is a top player for us, a really important player for us, but at the moment he is not fit yet.
On whether the midfielder could return for Sunday’s massive clash with Liverpool, he added: “We will see. We will see how things evolve and if that’s too short, that’s ok.”
On Rice, who seemed to be struggling with a hamstring issue towards the end of the 5-0 win over Crystal Palace, he said: “He is one of the players [who is a doubt], yes. He’s done some work but he’s missed some work as well but hopefully, he’s going to be ok.”
When it was put to him that Gabriel might also be struggling having had a kick to the knee, Arteta confirmed: “That’s the other one, yeah.”
Ok
Unleash the jorgi
It would also please me if Arsenal unleashed a Corgi.
Where is the Win content.
I knew there was a typo somewhere. Partey was scheduled for a return in late Jan 2025.
At this stage we all know he’s incredibly vague on purpose and this could mean just about anything for all three of them.
The team sheet is the only tangible “injury news” we can trust.
*Breaking News*
Thomas Partey in line to be fit for Arsenals last game of the season, which is now meaningless after the long-term injuries to Rice & Gabriel left Arsenal slipping down the table to 6th place.
Let’s hope that is the other universe!!
I really hope we don’t needlessly risk Dec, if we lost him that’s championship over basically.
On the other hand no guarantee we beat liverpool with everyone fit so don’t gamble on weakening yourself on a fixture you are likely to win just to look far ahead. If he’s a doubt fine, if he’s fit, play him. One game at a time
Seems like Gabriel was a footballer like the other Gabis but then he took an arrow to the knee!
Here’s a serious question. Assume an important player (Grealish when he was Villa is a good example; maybe Toney for Brentford) is injured and will definitely not play the next match. Assume that it is not public knowledge, but that people around the club know it. Is there not a danger that people with inside knowledge will benefit in betting on the match? If I know, for example, that neither Rice nor Gabriel will feature, shouldn’t that affect the odds in favour of Forest?
Toney was a pertinent example…
Yeah, not an accident.