Mikel Arteta gives Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu injury update in five Arsenal absences
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has given an update on some potential absences ahead of his side's all-London affair with West Ham on Thursday evening. The Gunners are off the back of an important point against Premier League title rivals Liverpool, where they had to show their resistance at the back to walk away with a draw.
It keeps the race for the championship wide open as the Reds currently lead the way, but Arsenal have their game in hand against the Hammers. Arteta will be without Kai Havertz in his selection as the German international picked up his fifth yellow card of the season, resulting in a suspension for the game.
Jurrien Timber is a long-term injury concern, while Fabio Vieira is another who has been out with an issue for a few weeks now. Then there's Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu, an important duo that have been missing but could be edging towards a return from the treatment table.
Discussing team news ahead of the match on Thursday, Arteta told the press: «No nothing has changed yet. We’re not going to have those two [Partey and Tomiyasu], then we have the suspension of Kai [Havertz], so I think we’re gonna have five out, but we have lots of other players willing to play.»
The main problem for the Spaniard may be that as soon as the closest two come back into the squad, they could be leaving just as quickly. The pair have international tournaments coming, with both the African Cup of Nations and the Asian Cup coming in the next month.
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On when they could end up leaving the squad for their respective nations, he added: «There are some
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