Arteta hints 'exceptional' Arsenal ace could make his first EL outing of the season tonight

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that Thomas Partey is “looking fine” fitness-wise.

The Gunners boss, speaking to the club’s media team, also dropped a potential hint over whether he could start tonight.

Arteta said Partey “needs to play regularly and find consistency at that level”.

The Arsenal midfielder has missed five of his side’s games this season due to thigh problems.

This included the Gunners’ first Europa League outing of the season, the win over FC Zurich.

He also missed out on playing for Ghana during the last international break, again due to injury issues.

However, Partey returned for Arsenal in Saturday’s North London derby, where he shone against Tottenham.

The 29-year-old opened the scoring with a superb long-range effort, and his overall play was top-notch too.

Partey was great in possession, showed superb passing awareness, and was defensively switched on throughout.

“We are really happy with his performances”

Arteta acknowledged that the midfielder hasn’t had much consistency in recent months.

Nonetheless, the Arsenal boss suggested that Partey is now fully fit and can kick on.

“He hasn’t had the consistency over the past few months, obviously with the injuries he’s been through,” said Arteta.

“He’s been in and out and he did it – a big performance like that [against Tottenham].

“He contributed to the team in an exceptional way and we are really happy with his performance.”

On Partey’s injury, Arteta said: “He’s looking fine. He needs to play regularly and find consistency at that level.”

Partey’s time at Arsenal hasn’t exactly been plain sailing, but Saturday’s performance was him at his best.

Hopefully he’ll be able to maintain fitness and finally find some consistency.

With Arsenal now looking like a force to be reckoned with once again, Partey will hope to play a key role.