There is a chance Partey will return from injury before AFCON - Arteta

At a press briefing yesterday, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provided updates on the status of key players Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu ahead of the Gunners' upcoming match against West Ham United.

Contrary to earlier rumours, Arteta dispelled hopes of the return of Partey, who has been sidelined since Arsenal's 1-0 victory against Manchester City on October 8. The Ghanaian midfielder was speculated to be back in training, but Arteta confirmed that neither Partey nor Tomiyasu would be available for the clash with West Ham.

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Arteta expressed, "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."

On the possibility of Partey and Tomiyasu returning before international duty, Arteta stated, "There is a chance. We'll have to see. They haven't trained yet but hopefully, they can evolve in the right way."

The Gunners face West Ham on Thursday, New Year's Eve against Fulham, and a third-round FA Cup tie against Liverpool on January 7. Should Ghana and Japan progress to their respective finals in the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup, Partey and Tomiyasu could miss at least four games for Arsenal, including a crucial Premier League clash with Liverpool at the Emirates on February 4.

Regarding the uncertainty around the departure dates for Partey and Tomiyasu for their national team duties, Arteta mentioned ongoing discussions between clubs and federations. The manager emphasized that a decision on the best timing for their departure had not been finalized.

Partey, who has seen limited action this season with only five appearances, has been subject to transfer speculation, particularly with the recent arrival of Declan Rice at Arsenal. On the other hand, Tomiyasu has been grappling with a calf injury, causing him to miss Arsenal's last four Premier League fixtures.