Reports indicate that Ghana and Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is likely to miss the 2023 AFCON after suffering a setback in his attempt to recover from a muscle injury.
The latest injury to hit the midfielder happened in the lead up to Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League game against Sevilla in Spain.
Prior to the game, Partey had played 45 minutes and 65 minutes for Ghana against Mexico and USA though he missed Arsenal’s league game against Chelsea played immediately after the international break.
According to Football Writer John Cross of The Mirror UK newspaper, the former Atletico Madrid player has undergone a thigh procedure treatment with specialists and the prognosis is that he is set to sit out for the rest of the year.
🔴⚪️ Thomas Partey, expected to be out until the end of 2023 due to injury. His AFCON presence will be clarified/decided later this year.
Thomas has undergone a specialist procedure for treatment, as reported by @johncrossmirror — not good news for #AFC again. pic.twitter.com/OvUfa5JFqO
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 9, 2023
This seriously hampers his chances of competing in next year’s AFCON where Ghana has been drawn in Group B with Egypt, Mozambique and Cape Verde.
Partey’s injuries coupled with Mohammed Elneny’s impending trip to the AFCON to play for Egypt, Arsenal is contemplating switching it priority in the January transfer window from a striker-Ivan Toney has been rumoured to be on The Gunners radar- to a midfielder.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano corroborated this story.
🚨🔴⚪️ Arsenal are gonna look again into the midfielders market in January after Thomas injury.
Understand Douglas Luiz remains the fav option in #AFC list since long time, Arsenal love him but ambitious #AVFC want to keep Douglas. Not easy.
🎥 More: https://t.co/gIzF5U3XI7 pic.twitter.com/ueq08pwthB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 9, 2023
30 year old Partey has played five games in all competitions this season and is yet to score.