Adrian Clarke fears any injury for Thomas Partey will be a ‘hammer blow’ for Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. The midfielder sustained an issue in their 1-0 FA Cup loss at Manchester City.
Arsenal have sent Partey for an MRI scan as the 29-year-old suffered a rib injury this Friday night. Arteta had started the Ghanaian at the Etihad Stadium but had to replace him at the break. It was the 43-cap anchor’s 21st appearance of the season so far in all competitions.
Arteta has started Partey in all 16 Premier League games for which the midfielder has been fit. The Spaniard was without his engine room general for four games at the end of August and into September after a recurrence of the thigh injury that has blighted him since 2020.
Partey has suffered an array of fitness issues, including the persistent thigh injury, since he joined Arsenal in October 2020. The Gunners backed Arteta by triggering the £45m release clause in the midfielder’s contract with Atletico Madrid and offered Partey a five-year deal.
The Emirates Stadium natives are firmly reaping the rewards of their investment this term as they target Premier League glory. Partey has been instrumental for Arteta guiding Arsenal to the top of the table. They are hugely worse off without his presence shielding their defence.
Clarke fears for Arsenal’s title hopes if Arteta loses Partey to an injury
Partey offers Arsenal’s defence far greater security than anyone else in Arteta’s squad, so another injury would be devastating. He is also vital in establishing the Gunners’ play with his role as the deepest midfielder. Partey has even contributed two goals so far this term.
Arsenal are still to determine if or for how long Partey’s rib injury will keep the midfielder out. But one-time Gunners star Clarke fears for Arteta and the north London club’s title hopes as there is not currently a better deep-lying operator in England than their £200k-a-week star.
“One player Arsenal don’t want to lose right now is Thomas Partey,” Clarke told talkSPORT. “He is the glue that holds it all together. He’s arguably the best in his position in the country right now.
“So, it would be a hammer blow and that is why they are in the market for another central midfielder because he is so dominant.”
Arsenal are in talks with Brighton & Hove Albion for Moises Caicedo in a last-gasp transfer before Tuesday’s deadline. But the Evening Standard reports the Seagulls turned down an opening offer of £60m for the Ecuador 21-year-old. Yet talks between the teams continue.
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