Arsenal have made a strong start to the season. Joint-Premier League leaders with the joint-best defence across the entire division, into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and well-placed to progress from their UEFA Champions League group.
And with confidence in the squad sure to be flowing after finally recording a victory over Manchester City in the league at the weekend, it’s safe to suggest that the October international break may have arrived at the worst possible time for the Gunners. Or has it?
Whilst these two-week pauses in a campaign can be a momentum-killer, it does allow players to recuperate. Of course, Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Leandro Trossard immediately spring to mind having withdrawn from international duty thus allowing them to work with Arsenal’s medical team to try and be ready for the Chelsea game a week on Saturday.
But for the 14 senior players who have joined up with their respective nations, there are many who should benefit from this international break more than others and Thomas Partey is certainly at the top of the list having been recalled to the Ghana squad for friendlies against USA and Mexico.
The midfielder missed out last month as the Black Stars qualified for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations after sustaining a groin injury during an Arsenal training session. Sidelined for just over a month, the 30-year-old returned to action as a substitute in the win over City, playing a role in Gabriel Martinelli’s goal.
Often when Partey is away on international duty, Gunners supporters have to hold their breaths and pray for the best as there has been the odd occasion when he’s returned injured. That will no doubt be the worry once again over the next week, but this break comes at the ideal time.
As mentioned above, Ghana have already qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations so one would imagine their upcoming friendlies won’t be too intense as Chris Hughton can look to fine-tune a couple of things and perhaps experiment with some players especially as there’s another international window next month.
For Partey, if he can get at least 45 minutes into his legs in both games, that can only benefit his search for match sharpness having made one substitute appearance in about five weeks. However, the possibility of him completing a full match can’t be ruled out following Arteta’s recent admission.
“He is ahead of schedule, that’s for sure. We wanted to have him in the squad [vs RC Lens in midweek] if we needed to, the way the game panned out we had other necessities and didn’t use him,” the Spaniard said of Partey ahead of the Man City clash. “He will be in the squad.”
With the Gunners facing Chelsea after the international break not to mention the Champions League double-header with Sevilla, the trip to Newcastle United and a Carabao Cup showdown with West Ham United, Arteta is going to have to manage his squad carefully and having Partey fully fit allows for rotation in midfield and even at right-back.
Arsenal’s other first-team stars to benefit from the international break include those who haven’t seen much game time this season such as third-choice goalkeeper Karl Hein, Mohamed Elneny – who is effectively in the same boat as Partey after returning to the Egypt squad after injury – and Jakub Kiwior.
Meanwhile, Kai Havertz will be away from the Arsenal microscope. That may not necessarily be a bad thing after contributing a goal and an assist on his last two Premier League outings as he might be beginning to win over a few doubters following his £65million summer transfer from Chelsea.
Having said that, called up by new Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann for friendlies against USA and Mexico, it will be interesting to see what role Havertz is used in as he usually plays up front for the national team. If that’s the case and he adds another goal contribution or two to his tally it will set things up nicely for his return to Stamford Bridge.
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