It has taken a while, but Arsenal fans might be about to see Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga partner one another on Saturday.
Arsenal are set for a tricky trip to Burnley this weekend.
The Gunners confirmed via their official website that Mohamed Elneny is absent with a hamstring injury, joining the suspended Granit Xhaka on the sidelines.
And with Partey having made his comeback against Norwich City last weekend with a 28-minute cameo, the Ghanaian could potentially make the first XI alongside Lokonga.
If he does, it is ever so exciting for fans of the North London club.
Machines
Lokonga was one of the cheaper summer signings by Arsenal after only costing around £15 million but, in terms of value, he may also be the best of the bunch.
That’s because the Belgium international has been a rip-roaring feature of the Gunners’ early-season form.
The team as a whole has been fairly awful so far, the win over Norwich notwithstanding, but Lokonga has looked an absolute machine in midfield.
Partey, who cost £45 million last October, is something of a midfield powerhouse himself and the idea of Arteta starting both of them against the Clarets is such an exciting prospect – and an ominous one for Sean Dyche’s side.
This is the midfield axis that Arsenal fans have in their mind as being the best that Arteta has available to him long term.
And with Elneny out, it’s very possible that the Spanish coach will test-drive this axis on Saturday.
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