Snl24 | Arteta: Partey wanted to go to AFCON, but…

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Thomas Partey of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal FC at Selhurst Park on August 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained why Thomas Partey is unable to feature at the Africa Cup of Nations despite the midfielder wanting to go.

Partey was named in the Black Stars’ 55-man preliminary squad late last year, but was surprisingly left out of Chris Houghton’s final squad earlier this week.

Arteta has revealed the player has been pushing it in rehab but is not close to returning to competitive action.

Read: ‘Egypt will be Ghana’s easiest game at AFCON’

“It was about common sense,” said Arsenal boss Arteta, as per the Standard.

“He had a long-term injury. He was trying to push his rehab because he really wanted to be with his national team, but he’s still far from training with the team and it didn’t make sense for him to be involved.”

When asked how long Partey is away from his return, he added, “Hopefully it is weeks.

“When and how many weeks is going to depend a little bit on how [long] the next step, training with the team, will take him. But he is progressing well.”

The Ghanian has been a key figure for the Gunners over the past two seasons, as he also able to cover at right-back when the club have injuries.

The Gunners will be back in action on Sunday evening when they host rivals Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup at the Emirates Stadium.

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