Arsenal were dealt a fresh double injury blow before their Premier League London derby with West Ham United, as Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino were both forced out of the squad.
The Gunners were only expected to travel to the London Stadium without the services of Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, both of whom are on the long road back from knee injuries.
Gabriel Magalhaes was also a fresh doubt after suffering an unspecified issue against Sporting Lisbon in Tuesday's 5-1 Champions League win, and Arteta only offered a vague three-word update on his condition on Friday.
However, Gabriel was fit to take his place in the middle of the Gunners' backline in the capital, although there was no space for either Merino or Partey in Arteta's matchday squad.
The Gunners subsequently confirmed on X that summer signing Merino was nursing a knee injury, while Partey missed out due to a muscle problem, but there is no indication how severe their respective problems are.
Arteta coy on Partey, Merino injuries
Arsenal's Thomas Partey pictured on September 22, 2024© Imago
Asked to explain the midfield pair's absences from the squad by Sky Sports News, Arteta kept his cards mostly close to his chest, although Gabriel was able to take part in Friday's full training session.
"They both picked up an injury and the game came too early - they couldn't be part of the squad. Gabriel is the good news, he managed to do the session yesterday so he starts the game," Arteta said.
It remains to be seen how long Merino and Partey will be in the infirmary for, but the pair are already doubtful for the grudge match with Manchester United at the Emirates on Wednesday's evening.
The former's knee concern is another setback to his already-disrupted start to life in North London, having been unable to make his debut until October 1 after fracturing his shoulder in a freak training accident with Gabriel.
Meanwhile, Partey completed the full 90 against Sporting in midweek and had started 11 of the Gunners' first 12 Premier League games in 2024-25, having seemingly consigned his injury woes to the past.
Is it time for Arsenal to move on from Partey?
Arsenal's Thomas Partey celebrates scoring on November 23, 2024© Imago
Partey's latest fitness blow will no doubt reignite debate surrounding his future in North London, where the Ghana international is only under contract until the end of the current campaign.
The consensus is that Merino, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard will be Arsenal's first-choice midfield moving forward, and Partey is unlikely to become less injury prone the further he gets into his 30s.
Letting their £42m investment leave for nothing in 2025 would be a defeat on the business side of things, though, and Arteta has not ruled out a new deal for the former Atletico Madrid man.
"We will have the right time to discuss about the situation. He is showing consistency at the highest level, again because his availability and the way that he feels physically is allowing him to do that, and I am very pleased with that," Arteta said on Friday.
With Partey and Merino out of contention, Jorginho was named in a Premier League starting lineup for the second game running after completing one half of the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
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