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Mikel Arteta delivers fitness update on Thomas Partey, Emile Smith Rowe, Gabriel Jesus
Mikel Arteta is still waiting to hear whether Thomas Partey will be ready for Arsenal’s match against Aston Villa on Saturday.
The key Premier League match against Manchester City last week had to be missed due to a back injury for the Ghanaian midfielder, who has emerged as the Gunners’ star.
Arsenal lost that game 3-1, leading to them slipping from the top of the table, and Arteta was unable to speculate on whether Partey will come back into contention for the trip to Villa Park.
Asked for an update on Partey, the Gunners boss said: “We have to assess him today again. He had some discomfort, a little muscle discomfort. We have to assess him this morning and see how he is.”
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Arteta added on England playmaker Emile Smith Rowe and Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus, who have also been nursing knocks of late: “Emile will be training today. If he’s fine he will be in the squad but Gabi is still not there.”
Arsenal head to Villa having gone winless through their last four games in all competitions, but Arteta is not overly concerned at a wobble being hit. He added on his side’s form: “It is normal. Obviously you want to get maximum points and we didn’t in the last three games. We have to look at ourselves. We have to be more efficient in the manner of how we play. In situations we have generated we haven’t had enough points and that’s down to us and we have to improve that because we want to win more games.”
Arsenal is still very much in control of their title bid as they look to win their first Premier League title since the ‘Invincibles’ of 2003–04. The Gunners are only behind City in the standings on goal differential and still have a game in hand on the defending champions.