Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has said the Gunners will have to deal with an injury to midfield enforcer Thomas Partey after he was forced off during last Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium.
Already a goal down at half time, courtesy of a Bukayo Saka own-goal, Arsenal were rocked by the loss of the former Atletico Madrid ace at the break, with the Ghanaian international forced off with a thigh problem.
It was a costly blow for Mikel Arteta's side, with the midfielder having played such a key role in keeping the midfield in shape since his arrival from Atletico on transfer deadline day in early-October.
Partey was replaced by on-loan Real Madrid man Dani Ceballos at the break, but his absence during the second 45 was noticeable, with Arsenal losing that biting edge in the middle of the park.
Now, Campbell, who played for the Gunners between 1985 and 1995, has admitted that he is not surprised to have seen Partey pick up an injury so soon into his career in north London, insisting it as a typical occurrence for Arsenal, with a new signing playing well and then being struck by an injury.
“These things happen in football, sadly,” Campbell told Football Insider.
“I am sure Thomas Partey would have been shocked by the performance against Aston Villa.
“The frustrating thing is that this guy was virtually ever-present at Atletico. He rarely suffered injury but the Premier League is a different kettle of fish and this is something Arsenal have to deal with.
“It’s an Arsenal thing – you have just signed a top player, he plays well and he gets injured.”
Though the thigh problem Partey sustained against Villa ruled him out of Ghana's African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan, it remains unclear whether or not he will be available for Arsenal's trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United next weekend.
Arteta will be hopeful that the midfielder will be available for selection, with his side having lost three of their last four Premier League matches, meaning the Spaniard will be desperate to be able to call upon one of his most important players.
