Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has remained cautious about revealing Thomas Partey’s fitness status ahead of the crucial Premier League clash against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Partey, the Ghanaian midfield dynamo, missed Arsenal’s emphatic 5-2 victory over West Ham last Saturday due to a muscle injury. His absence compounded Arsenal’s injury concerns, with Mikel Merino unavailable and Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori picking up knocks during the game at the London Stadium.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arteta hinted that decisions regarding Partey and other injured players would be made closer to match time. “We’re going to have a meeting this afternoon,” Arteta stated. “We’ve done a training session and monitored some players, keeping them away from certain activities. They all want to play, but we’ll make a call soon.”

Arsenal currently occupies second place in the Premier League standings, nine points behind leaders Liverpool. The clash against Manchester United is critical for both teams, with Arsenal aiming to close the gap in the title race and United seeking to bolster their own campaign.

The fitness of Partey and others will undoubtedly be a talking point as Arsenal prepares for one of the season’s most pivotal fixtures.