Mikel Arteta's own Kevin De Bruyne boost coming as Arsenal handed important injury reminder

Kevin De Bruyne returned for Manchester City to deliver both a goal and an assist to help turn the scoreline around for Pep Guardiola’s team against Newcastle on Saturday. Arsenal watched on hopeful with them not playing until next weekend,now in need of beating Crystal Palace to draw level with them again, but ultimately the Belgian dashed hopes of their title rivals dropping points.

“Kevin is a legend,” said Guardiola following his heroics on Tyneside. “He is loved by our people and, hopefully, in the last months he can help us be there to the end.”

“We need players like Kevin. We need him to do something special in the final third. That is not tactical ability but talent, individual talent.

The return of De Bruyne however does not need to be seen as a negative for the Gunners but instead stands as a reminder as to what the return of a key player can mean for a side. Arsenal themselves have been without one of their most important players for the majority of the season.

Having played more than 30 Premier League matches last season as the Gunners chased a first title in nearly 20 years,Thomas Partey has gone from his most available season to his least. He has featured just four times in the league and underwent a procedure which is hoped will now see him return later this month.

Mikel Arteta explained the reasoning behind Partey not attending the African Cup of Nations with Ghana. However, he tempered expectations about a quick return and hoped he would miss just weeks.

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“It was about common sense. He has a long-term injury and he really wanted