Arsenal have issued an injury update on Thomas Partey after the midfielder was a surprise absentee from the matchday squad for the Gunners’ Champions League clash with Sevilla.
The Ghana international has been returning from a groin injury but played in both of his nation’s recent friendlies against Mexico and USA and was an unused substitute in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
He was thought to be fit and available for the trip to Seville on Tuesday evening and was pictured in training with the rest of the squad on Monday.
But he was not included in the 23-man squad at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, with Arsenal confirming that he misses the match with a ‘muscle injury’.
The full extent of Partey’s injury – and whether it is a reoccurrence of his groin issue – is not yet known, with Mikel Arteta expected to provide an update on the midfielder after the match.
Early suggestions are that the 30-year-old has picked up a fresh thigh injury which was sustained during Monday’s session.
His absence sees Jorginho retain his place at the base of Arsenal’s midfield three, alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard.
Arteta has only made one change from the team that drew against Chelsea, with Takehiro Tomiyasu replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko in the starting XI, while Aaron Ramsdale returns to the bench.
At Stamford Bridge, Arteta was forced to leave Fabio Vieira out of the matchday squad for ‘tactical reasons’ with Emile Smith Rowe preferred, but both players make the bench in Seville with Uefa allowing 12 subs.
Arsenal are next in action on Saturday afternoon at home to Sheffield United in the Premier League, with Partey now a significant doubt for that match.
They then have a busy run of fixtures until the next international break, facing West Ham in the Carabao Cup in a week’s time before travelling to St James’ Park and then hosting Sevilla and Burnley.
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