Arsenal Football Club manager Mikel Arteta has downplayed the assertion that playing in Black Stars friendly games was a contributory factor to Thomas Partey’s muscle injury.
The Ghanaian midfielder’s muscle injury was confirmed by the Spanish manager in the lead up to Arsenal’s EPL game against Sheffield United on Saturday, October 28 at 14:00 GMT.
Partey’s latest injury has ruled him out for him a few weeks according to Arteta who added the former Atletico Madrid midfielder’s involvement in international friendly games against Mexico and USA didn’t contribute to Partey’s injury. (Click highlighted text to read story)
“I don’t think so. He was coming from a period of absence and he needed minutes. He played with the national team and we try to be always in touch with them.“
“Then we had two games with Chelsea and Sevilla very very close and we decided not to load him in the first game to play him in Sevilla, and then that happened in training… so it’s things that happen in football.”
Ghana lost 0-2 to Mexico and lost 0-4 to USA with Partey playing 45 minutes against Mexico and playing 64 minutes against USA.