Charles Watts has given fans an update on the return of Thomas Partey to first-team action following a spell on the sidelines for the Ghanaian.
The midfielder, who signed in the summer for £45m has been on the sidelines after picking up an injury in the North London derby earlier this month having just come back from a previous knock, but appears to be on the way back into Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Speaking in his latest video, Watts gave fans the news that he was back in training, but that he didn’t expect to see him running out the tunnel with his teammates just yet:
“Thomas Partey is back training at the moment stepping things up. I still have a feeling that game against West Brom might come too early for Thomas Partey. I think you’re probably looking at the Newcastle game in the FA Cup the week after that for Partey’s return but he is getting very, very close now. Fingers crossed it all goes well and we will soon see Thomas Partey, because him coming back into central midfield is going to make a huge difference to Arsenal, it really will.”
Have you been impressed with Thomas Partey since he signed for the club?
No, not good enough yet
Yes, he's been solid
TIF Thoughts on Thomas Partey’s potential comeback…
Despite Watts’ comments, whether or not Partey will be worth bringing back into the team straight away is a different matter.
Arsenal have had a recent uptick in form recently without him in the side, winning their last two games against Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion. And let’s face it, even before then he wasn’t exactly pulling up trees, failing to score a single goal or provide an assist whilst averaging just 6.62 on WhoScored.
So if Arsenal can continue their good run of form against West Bromwich Albion this weekend, then the decision to bring him back might just become a little bit more difficult. The Newcastle game will probably be used to get him back up to speed, but beyond that, it might not be a case of him being slotted straight back into the team.