Arsenal Midfielder Thomas Partey to Miss Liverpool Clash Due to Injury Setback

Arsenal's hopes of having midfielder Thomas Partey back in action have been dashed as he is set to miss the crucial game against Liverpool on Sunday.

Setback for Partey: Out of Action for Another Week

Arsenal's Thomas Partey, 30, will miss the upcoming match against Liverpool on Sunday, dealing a blow to the Gunners' midfield. Initially expected to make a return after sitting out against Nottingham Forest earlier in the week, the midfielder's comeback has been postponed due to ongoing injury concerns.

Partey has been sidelined since October last year due to a knee injury that required special treatment. Despite hopes for a swift recovery, his rehabilitation process has faced setbacks, keeping him out of action for an extended period.

The Ghanaian international was forced to miss the African Cup of Nations tournament in Côte d'Ivoire, as both his national team and Arsenal opted for a cautious approach to ensure his full recovery before returning to competitive play.

Having resumed training a few weeks ago, Partey's return seemed imminent, offering a glimmer of hope for Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta. However, a recent setback has dashed those hopes, prolonging his absence from the squad.

Confirming the setback on Friday, Arteta expressed disappointment over Partey's continued unavailability. He revealed that the midfielder had experienced discomfort in a familiar area, hindering his ability to participate in training sessions in the days leading up to the Liverpool clash.

Arteta stated, "With Thomas, unfortunately, we had a little setback a few days ago, so he’s not going to be available to be in the squad [to face Liverpool]. Whether that’s a matter of days or weeks, we’ll see but he had a little thing."

Despite remaining hopeful for Partey's swift recovery, the exact timeline for his return remains uncertain, pending further assessment and treatment.