Arsenal ‘Handed Major Thomas Partey Injury Boost’ Ahead of Everton Clash

Arsenal does not believe Thomas Partey has sustained any significant damage after his rib injury and he is expected to be available for their next match.

The Ghana international was withdrawn at halftime half-time of Friday night’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad.

Fortunately for the Gunners, the initial assessments have shown it is not a serious injury – though they are still waiting on the results of the MRI according to The Sun.

As a result, the club are hopeful Partey will be fit and available for next weekend’s trip to face Everton at Goodison Park, where the table-topping Gunners will be hoping to avoid being on the end of a new manager bounce as Sean Dyche takes charge of his first match.

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Albert Sambi Lokonga came on to replace Partey, as Arsenal exited the competition in the fourth round courtesy of a second-half Nathan Ake goal in a 1-0 loss.

Following the final whistle, concern immediately turned to Partey, who struggled with various injuries during his first two seasons in an Arsenal shirt.

The 29-year-old has managed to stay fit and become an integral member of Mikel Arteta‘s first XI this season, but the Gunners boss admitted that he would need to undergo scans to determine the severity of the problem.

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“He felt something and we didn’t want to take any risks, so he could not continue. He had some discomfort and it was getting worse and worse, so he could not continue,” Arteta told reporters.

“He wasn’t comfortable to continue. Obviously tomorrow, the day after he will have to have an MRI scan and see what he has.”

The former Atletico Madrid man has chipped in with two goals from 21 appearances in the 2021-22 season, scoring a pair of long-range stunners against Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest.

Partey now has four goals and four assists from 80 games in an Arsenal jersey since arriving in 2020, but Arsenal are still thin on the ground in midfield approaching Tuesday’s January transfer deadline.

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Prior to Partey’s injury scare, Arsenal reportedly failed with a £60m bid for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo, who has since publicly revealed his desire to leave the Seagulls.

Caicedo is understood to have been told to stay away from training following his bombshell announcement, but Brighton are adamant that the Ecuador international will not be leaving in January.

Arsenal have already signed Leandro Trossard from Brighton this month, as well as bringing in Polish centre-back Jakub Kiwior from Spezia.