By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

15th Sep, 2023 | 12:30pm

Sources: Big update on Thomas Partey injury and Arsenal return

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey could be out of action until after the October international break, sources have told Football Insider.

Partey, 30, was unable to link up with his Ghana teammates as they qualified for the African Cup of Nations with a win over Liberia earlier this month (7 September).

The midfielder is facing around four weeks on the treatment table with a groin injury he sustained in training last month.

Partey has been plagued with fitness issues since joining Arsenal from Atletico Madrid in October 2020.

According to Transfermarkt, he has missed 45 games for club and country since moving to the Premier League.

The 45-cap star had kept his place in Mikel Arteta’s side despite Declan Rice’s big-money arrival from West Ham.

Partey started the first three league games of this season in an unfamiliar right-back role, but his injury has restored Gabriel Magalhaes to the side.

Ben White has moved over to the right side of the rearguard, with Arteta reverting to the back four that impressed in the 2022-23 campaign.

Partey, who cost a reported £45million in 2020, is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in June 2025.

He scored three goals in 40 appearances for Arsenal in the 2022-23 campaign as the Gunners enjoyed their most successful season under Arteta to date.

The defensive midfielder has now racked up 103 games for the north Londoners, notching five goals and four assists.

Arsenal have picked up 10 points from a possible 12 in the Premier League this term.

They face Everton away on Sunday (17 September) before facing PSV in the Champions League next week (20 September).

In other news, Arsenal “high” seven-figure payout revealed after new twist.