Mikel Arteta drops mysterious Thomas Partey contract hint as Arsenal boss gives triple injury update

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has claimed that the Gunners' intentions with Thomas Partey are "very clear" as the Ghana international runs down the final few months of his contract.

Partey is still under the same terms he signed at Arsenal upon his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2020, and he is due to walk away for nothing when the current campaign draws to a close.

However, the 31-year-old is arguably enjoying his finest campaign in an Arsenal shirt to date, contributing four goals and three assists from 46 appearances in the number six position.

The Ghanaian midfielder completed the full 90 minutes in Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League quarter-final second-leg win over Real Madrid, although he picked up a yellow card that will rule him out of the first leg of the semi-final with Paris Saint-Germain.

Partey's nonsensical booking has left Arteta in a tricky midfield situation given that Jorginho is also nursing a shoulder injury, leaving Arsenal without either of their number six options for the visit of PSG.

Arteta makes "progress" claim amid Partey contract uncertainty

© Imago

Nevertheless, the 31-year-old is proving his worth to the Gunners in the current season, also filling in at right-back when need be and finding the net from that position in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Brentford.

Asked in Friday's press conference for an update on Partey's situation, Arteta was typically non-committal, saying: "Yes, there's progress with all the players. I'll leave that to Andrea [Berta] and the club to decide and to talk about."

Questioned specifically on whether he wanted Partey to stay at the club, the Spaniard replied: "The intention is very clear. I'll leave that to Andrea and the club to take a step forward."

Arsenal are already expected to lose Jorginho on a free transfer to Flamengo this summer, but they are seen as the favourites to capture Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad in a £51m deal.

The Gunners paid a little less than that - £42.5m - to prise Partey away from Atletico, since when he has contributed nine goals and seven assists in 161 games for the club in all tournaments.

Arteta provides Arsenal injury latest before Ipswich Town game

© Imago

Partey battled back from a knock to make the starting XI at the Bernabeu, but Arsenal were still without six players, including long-term absentees Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz and Takehiro Tomiyasu.

Riccardo Calafiori also missed out on account of his knee issue, and reports have claimed that Jorginho is set for a few weeks on the sidelines with the chest injury he sustained in the Brentford draw.

Arteta does not expect either man to play at Portman Road, adding: "Jorginho is not going to be available yet, he's still struggling with that incident. And Riccardo as well probably is not going to be available."

However, the Spaniard expressed hope that Calafiori would be fit to face PSG, and he did not rule out the possibility of Havertz playing again before the campaign is over either.

"Semi-finals? I think that's too close. But if I have to bet on him earlier than expected, I would say yes. The way he works every day in that gym, pushing everybody, I don't think you can hold him much longer," he added.

Arsenal enter the weekend 13 points below Liverpool in the Premier League table, meaning that their title chances could officially be over if they lose and the Reds prevail against Leicester City.

Written by
Ben Knapton