Thomas Partey set to hand Arsenal timely boost for crucial Benfica clash after boss Mikel Arteta reveals he will be available in Athens if he comes through a final fitness test
- Thomas Partey has been out with a hamstring injury suffered at Aston Villa
- It was the third injury for him since joining Arsenal from Atletico Madrid
- But Gunners boss Mikel Arteta says the midfielder is close to returning again
- Arsenal go in to the second leg against Benfica with the score level at 1-1
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Thomas Partey will be available for Arsenal‘s crucial Europa League tie against Benfica if he ‘feels good’ after a final training session on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old was spotted in training on Tuesday at London Colney after recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in the defeat at Aston Villa at the beginning of the month.
It was the Ghana international’s third significant injury since joining the Gunners from Atletico Madrid in the summer in a £45million deal, having been out with two separate thigh issues between November and January.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is ‘very close’ to returning
The midfielder has been out with a hamstring issue suffered at the beginning of the month
But speaking at his press conference ahead of the second leg against Benfica, Arteta confirmed Partey will be available for selection as long as there are no more complications.
‘Thomas is very close [to returning],’ Arteta said.
‘He’s got a final test today in training and if he’s feeling good he’ll be okay to play the match.’
Arsenal failed to capitalise on the opportunities they created and had to settle for a 1-1 draw in their ‘away’ leg of the tie against Benfica, with Bukayo Saka cancelling out Pizzi’s penalty.
Partey was spotted in team training on Tuesday following days of individual sessions
And he is now set to hand Arteta (right) a timely boost ahead of their tie against Benfica
Partey has endured a frustrating, injury-hit start to his Arsenal career following his move to the Premier League, playing just 682 minutes of Premier League action since his debut as a substitute against Manchester City.
He suffered a thigh injury in the home reverse by Aston Villa in early November, which kept him out for a month, before suffering a similar injury in his return game in the north London derby.
But his latest return will provide a timely boost for Arteta, who described their ‘home’ last-32 second leg against Portuguese outfit Benfica as a ‘cup final’ following their defeat to City – their eleventh of this season’s top-flight campaign – at the weekend.
The Gunners are six points behind Everton in seventh, and sit eleven points behind West Ham who currently occupy the final Champions League spot.
The first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie ended 1-1, with Bukayo Saka scoring for them
