Arsenal likely to be without Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey their opening game of the Premier League season away at Brentford and potentially weeks afterwards.
The Ghanaian’s spells on the sidelines could cause Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to alter his transfer window plans this summer.
Partey sustained what is feared to be ankle ligament damage during Sunday afternoon’s pre-season friendly against London rivals Chelsea with Arteta conceding he is concerned about the severity of the injury after the game.
“I just had a talk with the doctor. He’ll have a scan tomorrow,” explained the Arsenal manager. “At the moment it’s not looking good because he was in pain and he could not continue which for Thomas is pretty unusual.”
Recent reports spell bad news for Gunners fans, as football.london claim that Partey is confirmed out of the trip to Brentford on August 13, and could be set to miss the following two games against Chelsea and Man City respectively.
Given the injury was actually feared to be a lot worse, missing just three games may feel like the former Atletico Madrid has got off lightly.
Partey has endured a dismal first year at Arsenal in terms of injuries, which has come as a surprise to many given how he was a mainstay in Atleti’s midfield, rarely troubled with persistent knocks.
Those close to the midfielder are reportedly hopeful that he could return sooner than anticipated providing his recovery goes off without a hitch.
Should Partey miss the opening trio of Premier League games, he will have an international break to use to his advantage in mid-September with the aim of being ready for the Gunners afterwards.
Regardless of when Partey returns, his injury has provided a short-term selection headache for Arteta, who now boasts just four central midfielders at his disposal, one of whom has no prior Premier League experience.
Arteta will have to choose from Granit Xhaka, Joe Willock, Mohamed Elneny and summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga unless further additions are made before the window shuts.
Willock has been touted with a move away from North London to return to Newcastle, where he enjoyed a stunning loan spell during the second half of last season.
Given Partey’s injury concern, Arsenal may wait until the end of the window to sanction a move away for Willock as they look to keep midfield cover.
When questioned over the future of both Willock and right-back Hector Bellerin, Arteta said: “I don’t know. I’m going to coach them and train them, and respect and look after everybody because they are our players.
“Hopefully they can have their minds here and prepare here because they are Arsenal players and our job is to make them as good as we can.”
