Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has delivered a worrying update on Thomas Partey after he was ruled out of Sunday’s defeat to Wolves.
Partey has not featured since he was taken off during the 3-0 loss to Aston Villa before the international break.
It was thought the Ghanian had sustained a thigh problem - but it appears that the blow is worse than that.
Arteta admitted that Partey was desperate to get back out on the pitch, but it would still be a few weeks until that would be possible.
“He had an injury very early in the game, he wanted to continue the second half,” said Arteta.
“We knew it was a significant injury. He’s done very well and he’s working very hard, he wants to be available.
“Hopefully we can get him back soon but it’s an area we need to be careful and we need to be protective with the player.
“I don’t think he will be with us in the next few games.”
Meanwhile, the Gunners sit down in 14th place in the Premier League, and pressure is starting to mount on Arteta’s shoulders after suffering three consecutive league defeats.
But the Spaniard insists he is not worrying about his job, only on getting the best out of his players.
“It’s something that the day I decided to be a coach I know that one day I will be sacked or leave the football club,” he added.
“I don’t know if it’s the day after I sign my contact, in a month’s time, a year’s time or six months’ time. I never worry about it.
“My only concern is to get the best out of the players, give the best possible service to the club and become better and better.
“I know, I repeat, in this profession, one day I will get the sack or leave but I don’t know when that is going to happen.”
When asked if he was concerned by his team’s recent poor run, Arteta admitted: “It is when you lose three games in a row for different reasons at home. I am really concerned, I am responsible for that.”
