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Topics: Football, Thomas Partey, Manchester City, Arsenal, Premier League
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Thomas Partey, Manchester City, Arsenal, Premier League
Arsenal have been forced to take on Manchester City without the injured Thomas Partey. Their results without him are telling.
The Gunners are at the summit of the Premier League, three points clear of tonight’s opponents City.
However, a win for Pep Guardiola’s men will see last season’s champions reclaim the top spot on goal difference.
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Indeed, Arsenal have not won either of their last two league games and if they are to claim a crucial victory this evening they will have to do so without their star midfielder Partey.
Jorginho makes his full debut for Arsenal ahead of the Ghana international, who is absent with a muscular injury.
Partey trained with his Gunners team-mates on Tuesday but is missing from Arteta's squad altogether against City.
On the matter, Arteta told Amazon Prime: "It's what happens in football. Unfortunately, Thomas felt something in his back muscle and he wasn't available to play today."
Partey has been a key figure in Arsenal’s rise to the top of the table, having started 18 of Arsenal's 21 matches in the Premier League this season.
And Arsenal’s stats when the 29-year-old has not featured are telling.
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According to Amazon Prime, since August 2021, Arsenal have played 41 Premier League games featuring Partey, winning 71 per cent of those encounters.
Meanwhile Partey's involvement has seen the Gunners claim 2.2 points per game and conceded an average of just 0.9 goals per game.
During the same period, Arteta’s side played 18 games without Partey, winning just nine of them (50 per cent).
Moreover, without Partey Arsenal concede 1.6 goals per game, and have recorded an average of just 1.6 points per game.
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Partey's injury is not thought to be a serious one, but severe enough to see the star miss Arsenal's sternest test of the season.