Thomas Partey and Fabio Vieira took part in Arsenal’s open training session ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Porto. However, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu were all absent.
Manager Mikel Arteta hinted last Friday that his Ghanaian and Portuguese midfielders were close to a return to action and it now looks like they could be part of the squad that travels to Portugal this afternoon.
Partey picked up a groin injury in the second month of the season and suffered a hamstring injury in training that has seen him sidelined since October. He had been due back at the turn of the year but he’s had a couple of setbacks.
Vieira underwent surgery on his groin in November and has missed Arsenal’s last 13 matches in the Premier League. Given tomorrow’s match is against his former club, he’ll be delighted to have made it back in time.
The positive news is offset by the continued absence of Jesus, Zinchenko and Tomiyasu; a trio of players persistently plagued by niggly injuries.
Arsenal allowed Jesus to play with fluid on the knee at Nottingham Forest and while he scored and made an assist, he’s not been seen since. Time will tell if that was a risk worth taking. Meanwhile, Zinchenko and Tomiyasu continue to struggle with calf issues.
The Ukrainian made it to half-time against Liverpool in February but has missed the last two matches while the Japanese full-back hasn’t been seen since he returned from the Asian Cup.
Jesus, I pray for a fit Partey
and Partey hard for a fit jesus
I think MA typically suffers from “Analysis Paralysis” when he has too many options in front. I am not saying that Partey shouldn’t recover though, in fact he should give Arteta a selection headache
Keeping Cedric as cover was a smart decision given the issues with Tomi and Zinchenko. Hopefully they will come back soon. Given the constant injury situation with Jesus and lack of goals from Nketia we should seriously get this problem sorted out next season. Right now the Trossard and Havertz formation is working great but they can’t play every match and they can get injured too. We need a quality striker to replace Nketia.
Nketiah.
Sorry if I upset people by spelling his name correctly…
I am sorry for you that you come here and this is the best contribution and meaningful thing you really have to say. 👏 Well done.
I’m sorry that you’re sorry that he’s sorry.
Me too
Pot meet kettle.
It does annoy me fans can’t be bothered to learn the correct spelling of their own team’s players
Especially when it’s club legends like Viera, Lehman and Carzola
We need a world class striker, Nketiah hasn’t been great but I don’t think he is the main one needing replacement. It is crazy how people don’t like calling out their favorites
There’s no need to rush them back with the way we are playing at the moment ! Best to get the issues completely sorted rather than chancing them at 70% fit !
Do worry about Tomi though ?
Do agree with you mate but it would be handy to be able to rest some players ahead of the Newcastle game as they have a weeks rest.
Sad really as I’m talking about three of my favourite players in the squad (four if you throw Partey in there), but whoever we sign this Summer, whether that’s midfielder, striker, wherever, then it has to be done with the view of removing our reliance on this group of players. Thankfully we’ve started to move on from this with the way we’ve performed the past few games, but an injury to Trossard and Martinelli for example, and we’re back to Nketiah leading our front line for the run-in, whilst keeping our fingers crossed the injury gods do us a favour…… Read more »
As great as we’re playing now it’s easy to forget how dominant this team can be when Thomas is in it and fully fit. The double pivot of him and Rice in the couple of times we tried it looked lethal, especially against the top clubs. If i were an opposing midfielder it’d give me nightmares. Guess it’s probably unreasonable to expect to have him fully fit and hitting good form by the time we play City away, but maybe for Villa or Spurs after that? Not something I’d count on with his history, but could be a pleasant surprise.
We never tried that double pivot, Partey was at RB
You’re talking about the first 3 games of the season where he was essentially at RB defensively but moved inward to form a double pivot whenever we had the ball. There was also the Community Shield where we had a proper back 4 and Partey and Rice in front of them, and another time he came on vs Man City to see out the game. So actually both times we saw him play with Rice in front of a back four were wins against Man City, which bodes well doesn’t it
We did… in the community shield
City absolutely wanted to win that game.
I think to go away to city and United with Rice and Partey sitting in front of back four would be tremendous. I would fancy us strongly against city and think we would dominate United.
What type of fluid we talking about? Mobil 1?
Keeps your engine running like new, why not?
Partey, Jesus, Zinchenko and to a lesser extent Tomi should be moved on for a good fee or kept as squad players where their minutes are carefully managed. I know this sounds brutal, they are great players and it isn’t their fault…but we can’t rely on 5 players down the spine of a small squad who are perma crocked. It’s getting tiresome to not have important players available when we need them.
Tomiyasu is Ben White’s back-up. Zinchenko is Timber’s back-up.
We need a starting CF, with Jesus has a super-sub for him or Saka.
How do you suspect we can get a “good fee” for players who are “perma crocked”? Pray tell.
No need to rush back but a fit TP wouldn’t go a miss for the run in.
I believe that if Partey can play 60 minutes fairly regularly, it gives Arteta much greater flexibility. He can choose two of Partey, Rice, Jorginho, and Havertz to start in the midfield depending on the opponent and who is in form (and whether Zinchenko or Tomiyasu/Kiwior is at fullback). If Vieira is fit, I suppose that could mean a bit of rotation for Odegaard too, though that’s a much bigger step down. And being able to choose three from Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Saka means that–though it won’t happen often–that even Saka gets some rest. I think the… Read more »
Wenger would have seen a reason why Nketiah could play DM. Love the man.
I honestly don’t see Saka getting a single more minute of rest this season when we’re not leading at least by 3 or his legs are falling off. Mikel’s never done it before, other than I think vs Sheffield? And it’s squeaky bum time now, so probably not happening even against them. Similar with Rice, Odegaard and our two CBs. I definitely agree though re the mental and physical exhaustion, plus now you add the intensity of the Champions League, flying to Portugal and back for a glamorous do or die tie and then having to keep the same sort… Read more »
Odegaard does come off a bit more, mainly cos he presses so relentlessly I think so he’s knackered!
Great news to see them back in training, with ESR & Jorginho back, Jesus, Tomi & Zinny appearing to have minimal injuries and will be back soon, thats 7 class players with Ramsbo all pushing to replace our in form 1st eleven, with wishful thinking Timber might be involved later, our squad is looking to be as strong as it could be.
Brilliant though Thomas is, I remember each time he came back from injuries it took a good few games to get up to speed. I’m really hoping for something special from him for the last 10 games though.
Vieira is still a question mark for me after almost 2 seasons.
That’s because we have always been on our knees waiting for him to come back. Here’s the keys to the Team Thomas btw our whole season now rests in your hands.. but I do get it, I just hope he stays fit, it’s not like he owes us but he kinda does
Really does my head in, this.
Tomi went to Asian cup injured.
Didn’t even make the bench for game 1 and in the next game he was either a late sub or didn’t make the bench at all again.
One way or other, he was recovering from an injury and he goes to Doha and hey presto, by game 3/4 he’s a starter.
And hey presto, he’s now out again.
Fuckin nonsense.
Hope it’s not too serious, this is the business end of the season we’re in now.
Will Partey even get into the squad and if so where? It’s obvious that Rice’s best spot for us is as the #6 rather than an attacking mid role and that is where Partey is at his best too. My guess is he will only be cover for Rice and maybe come on late in games to protect a lead, that is until he picks up another injury. Probably best not to start him at all to limit him to 15-25 minutes at most a match to limit injury risk.
Not sure why Tomiyashu’s.contract was extended. He is injury prone, Fact. Should have sold him and seek a replacement.