Mikel Arteta says Thomas Partey should be part of Arsenal’s squad to face Sheffield United on Monday but decisions on the availability of other players, including Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu, will only be made after Sunday’s training session.
The manager also provided further information on the issues that have troubled Gabriel Jesus and Tomiyasu and gave an update on long-term absentee Jurrien Timber who was pictured in training with his teammates at the Emirates on Wednesday.
On Thomas Partey being fit…
Thomas had a session before the last game [against Newcastle] and now he’s done two or three consecutive sessions, so he should be part of the squad on Monday.
On Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu being available for Monday…
Those ones, it’s possible but we have to wait and see after the last two sessions that we have on Saturday and Sunday and if that’s the case they might be available on Monday.
On Gabriel Jesus…
He’s fit enough. How long he will last that’s something different. We didn’t want to take any risk after the results that we had against Newcastle. Obviously, we need him fit. He’s a massive player for us and we want to make sure that now we load the player in the right way.
On whether the procedure Jesus underwent before the season did what it needed to…
That was resolved. What happened is that he got a knock in another area that caused a different kind of injury afterwards. It wasn’t related to the first one and then he had a little niggle. It was a muscle issue that kept him for 10 days out.
On if there are fears Jesus might need to go under the knife again…
No, that’s resolved as far as I know. Probably it’s a question more specific for the doctors but as far as I’m concerned, I think that’s been resolved.
On the speed of Timber’s recovery and it showing his determination to get back…
Absolutely. It’s been a joy. All the physios and medical staff are really happy with his attitude and his commitment and especially the way things have gone. But it’s not a coincidence, the way he applies himself, how determined he is, his willingness to put every effort in everything that he’s demanded to do. And he’s in a really good place. Now we have to manage him because the last stage of that difficult injury is complicated. But I think he’s in the right way.
On what Timber will bring to the team…
First of all, his leadership, his versatility, the quality that he has to play in different positions, especially in attacking phase, the space that he can occupy and certain qualities that nobody else has in the squad to do that. You could tell that he was fitting in [during pre-season], the model fits him in, he’s really liked around the boys and he’s been a big miss.
On Tomiyasu’s injury situation…
He had an injury. In the last game when he played with Japan, he felt something. He was out. We expected it to be a little bit shorter but in the beginning, he was struggling a bit in the recovery and we decided to extend that period to be more certain because it’s a player that we really need and we are very sure that we cannot risk him and be out for months.
On whether Tomiyasu’s issue was a recurrence of an old problem…
I think it was something slightly different to that.
On returning players bringing a new level of unpredictability to the team…
Yeah, that’s one thing. Then depth, because we don’t know what’s going to happen and we’re going to have a lot of games. So freshness, more competition within the squad and the capacity to change games when the scenario is on our side and when we are chasing games. It’s something that in this period is going to be critical.
Looking good, 5 top players v close to being available! The opposite of last season when top players like Saliba and Tomi weren’t able to play.
Fingers crossed for the rest of the season and we can step up (or at least continue our current form)!
Good news that Jay-suß has an unrelated knee injury (assuming Arteta isn’t using double speak)! Still…would be great if he can remain fit the rest of the way. These repeated 2-4 weeks niggles are becoming a major concern in the area we are likely thinnest at.
Looking forward to a end of season blast with jesus, partey, zina back.
I’m not sure striker is out thinnest position though, surely jesus, kai, trossard, nketiah is one of the deepest positions?
Next would be RCB imo Saliba -> White -> Tomi -> Rice?
With Timber it looks unreal how fast his recovery is going. Given the way he plays and the turns he makes I’d be scared seeing him on the field before April. Maybe he did visit Mariana Kovacevic for some horse parts but even then I wouldn’t want us to risk
It does irritate me more than it should how much of a pass Liverpool get every game based on their injuries, but ours never get a mention despite missing arguably three or four nailed on first XI players and a good two or three big squad players for practically the entire season. The resilience we’ve shown has been fantastic.
What is equally irritating is, whilst they have had an injury crisis, they get easy games – Chavski and then Southampton!! Seriously why couldn’t they have had villa? They’d give them a stern test!!!
A fully fit Arsenal squad will beat City, Spurs, Utd away from home. If we can do that, the league is ours!
I agree with you. I have been quietly optimistic about our chances at the Etihad. I think we’ll win. United and Spurs can’t stand a fully fit and firing Arsenal smelling blood!
Guys I’m stuck in FF 18! Any recommendations?
So before the last boss battle, Zlahnu the cryogenic aisle keeper tells me: “So dear adventurer, I see you’re ready to confront the almighty dragon Premier Leaguz, but you’re in luck! In have Deez Nuts to ressurect one of the deads, to help you with that fight! Who would you choose? Zinchenko, Partey or Tomiyasu?”
Any tips?
I’ll take Tomi. We’re quite thin at LB and i prefer his defensive stats over Zinny’s (despite the attack stats) especially now that our 8 seems to be catching up to the rhythm and Benny Blanc inverting.
TP5 is great but we’re presently covered there with the positional tweak for Ødegaard.
Partey is a big guy, but does that picture make him look particularly hench? Maybe he’s been smashing the gym in his time away.
I hope the gym consented
On the edge there.
Will Thomas Partey last longer than this head of lettuce
Interesting how he says that timber had qualities in the attacking phase rather than buildup. We saw how well he dovetailed with Rice during community shield. Is itt possible that timber will be use to create rotations in buildup and after also to break the lines? At the moment zinchenko does that but without the security. Timber is more secure covering back as well as being a different type of player in terms of press resistance. If someone press zinchenko her will more likely pass and move. But timber can pass and move like zinchenko, invite a tackle and skip… Read more »