Arsenal midfield enforcer Thomas Partey has been ruled out of Ghana's upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan through injury, according to reports.
The midfield star, who joined Arsenal in a £45million deal from Spanish giants Atletico Madrid last month, suffered a thigh problem during the Gunners' disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday evening.
Partey, who has made a strong impact since arriving at the Emirates Stadium, was forced off at half time and replaced by Dani Ceballos, as a brace from Villa striker Ollie Watkins and a Bukayo Saka own-goal condemned the Gunners to their second successive Premier League home defeat.
Issuing an update following the full time whistle, Mikel Arteta, the Gunners boss, insisted he did not know how long the injury would rule the Ghanaian international out for.
“We have to scan him tomorrow (Monday) or the day after and see what he felt straight away,” Arteta said, as quoted by Goal. “Let's wait and see what the magnitude of the injury is.”
Whilst the timing of the injury has come at an ideal time for Arsenal, with them not now in action until a-week-on-Sunday, meaning he has the best part of two weeks to recover from the setback, it has meant that he will miss Ghana's crunch clashes with Sudan in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers over this international break.
According to Goal, Partey will not link-up with his international teammates for the next fortnight, instead staying at the Emirates Stadium to carry out his rehabilitation programme.
It is claimed that Arsenal have made this decision because they, understandably, want him to recover as quickly as possible.
Asked if Partey would remain in north London over the international break on Sunday evening, Arteta said: “I don't know. As I said, the doctor will have to have a look at him and probably scan him. Then we will decide what to do with him.”
It is claimed that Partey is in good spirits and is hopeful that the injury will not keep him on the treatment table for too long, with the Gunners' next game being against Leeds United at Elland Road on November 22.
