Mikel Arteta hopes to have Arsenal duo and available again at the start of January.
Partey, 30, has made just four appearances in an injury-hit season, with his last start coming at the end of August.
The midfielder suffered a thigh injury in training ahead of the clash with Sevilla last month and
Smith Rowe meanwhile started his first game of the season against Sheffield United at the end of October, helping his side to a 5-0 win
Arteta initially suggested the midfielder was facing ‘a few weeks’ out of action.
Premier League teams are heading towards the busy festive period with a brief break scheduled for January when game week 21 will be split across two weeks, giving each team one weekend off.
With two rounds of FA Cup action also to contend with in January, Arteta hopes to have both players available for that period.
Asked if Smith Rowe and Partey could be back before the January break, Arteta told a press conference on Tuesday: ‘It is a possibility but it will depend on how they evolve.
‘Emile has been already on the pitch doing some jogging, so I don’t know how long it’s going to take. Normally he is a quick healer, and Thomas is the same.
‘We have to make sure that when they come back they are at their best as well. We don’t want to rush them, but at the same time the team needs them because at the moment we are missing some key, key players.’
to address a groin issue.
Ben White trained on his own ahead of the Champions League clash with Lens on Wednesday but is available for that game.
Arsenal sit top of Group B and are on the brink of sealing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
A draw against Lens would be good enough to seal qualification but the Gunners may book their place without kicking a ball. Sevilla host PSV Eindhoven in the group’s early game at 5:45pm that evening. A win for the Spanish side will send Arsenal through.
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