Arsenal FC manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey is fit and ready to play in Arsenal’s English Premier League tie against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday, October 19 at 16:30 GMT.
Partey’s availability for the game was up in the air after he missed a pair of 2025 AFCON qualifiers for Ghana. The Black Stars played Sudan twice in the recent international football window and ended up with a goalless draw and a 2-0 loss.
The results have further harmed the Black Stars chances of qualifying to the 2025 AFCON in Morocco that will be held from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026. Ghana last missed out on competing in an AFCON in 2004.
However in a pre-game presser ahead of the clash with Bournemouth, Arteta said that Partey was fit while delivering an update on Arsenal players’ fitness.
“Thomas Partey is fit and ready. For Gabriel Martinelli, same as Havertz; we will decide today. Ben White, Timber and Zinchenko are quite close, we hope to have some positive news” Arteta said.
Partey has played a crucial role in Arsenal’s brilliant start to the 2024-2025 season and scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park earlier in the campaign.
Fellow Black Stars player Antoine Semenyo, who has had a fine start to the season with three goals to his name, is likely to start for The Cherries against Arsenal.
