Arteta admits he is ‘worried’, says Partey ‘really pushing’ to face Spurs

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is “really pushing” to be fit to face Tottenham on Sunday, says Mikel Arteta.

The 27-year-old is eager to return to action after missing the last two games with a thigh problem.

Partey picked up the injury in the defeat to Aston Villa and will have further scans this week to determined whether he can make the derby game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Arteta revealed Partey is desperate to face top-of-the-table Spurs.

“He has been training separately in the last week or so,” said Arteta.

“We have to scan him again to see how he is feeling. He is a player that is so willing, that is pushing us every day because he wants to do it.

“At the same time, we have to protect and make sure that when he gets back in the team he is ready to do that and whatever extent of minutes we can use him.

“So this week is going to be crucial, the moment he starts to train in parts with the team. See how he is feeling and how he is evolving day to day.”

 

 

 

Asked if Partey could face Tottenham, Arteta added: “We don’t know.

“Again, he is really pushing. Every day he is trying to get around the doctor and the physios. He hasn’t trained with the team yet. So this week let’s see if he can get a session or two.

“We need to scan him again to see the extent of the injury and how it has healed. I know if it is, Thomas wants to play tomorrow! Then we have to see medically that he is safe to participate this week at all.”

Arteta could also be without david Luiz against Spurs. Luiz was taken off at half-time with a head injury in the defeat at Wolves.

Luiz suffered a cut head and will not face Rapied Vienna, but he could return on Sunday.

“I think he will be fit to play if the scar is healing properly,” said Arteta. “If he is comfortable heading the ball, then there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Arteta ‘worried’

Asked about the team’s poor form, Arteta said: “I’m really worried about the results and the margins that we are losing games. Because when we analyse the games afterwards ‘why are we losing these games when they are so tight?’.

“There is a reason that sometimes you win it and sometimes you lose it but we need to recover. Sometimes it’s a lack of confidence in certain moments because we conceded as well, probably it’s not our standards.

“Then obviously the goals we need to score to win football matches more consistently. When you compare what Wolves did and what we did in a normal scenario we should not lose that game.”

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