Mikel Arteta has said Thomas Partey will return from injury for Arsenal on Monday but admitted he has fitness concerns over Gabriel Jesus, although the Brazilian striker is also in the running to play against Sheffield United.
Partey has not played for Arsenal since coming on as a substitute in the win over Manchester City in early October after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury last month. The Ghana midfielder resumed full training ahead of last Saturday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle and is expected to feature at Bramall Lane, where Jesus is also set to return after being an unused substitute against Eddie Howe’s side.
Jesus has missed Arsenal’s last four games with a knee injury and Arteta said they would manage his return with care.
“He is fit enough. How long he lasts is something else. We didn’t want to take any risks after the result against Newcastle. We need him fit – he’s a massive player for us and now we want to make sure we use him properly.”
Asked if he expected Jesus to need another operation in the summer after missing the start of the season due to surgery, Arteta replied: “No. I think that’s solved, the first one. The question is more aimed at the doctors, but in my opinion everything has been resolved.”
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are assessed ahead of Monday’s game against the Premier League’s bottom side as Arsenal look to record a seventh successive Premier League win. Arteta said Jurriën Timber is back in training as the defender completes his rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament injury sustained on his Premier League debut against Nottingham Forest in August.
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“He’s in really good shape,” he said of the £40million summer signing. “Now we have to manage him because he’s in the final stages of this serious injury and it’s complicated, but I think he’s on the right track.” You could tell he fit in. He was very popular with the boys and was sorely missed.”
