Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has provided an update on 3 key players ahead of the first division kick off at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
The London heavyweights ended their three-match losing streak by beating Crystal Palace by a score of 5-0 on January 20. Despite the result, Arsenal remains 5 points behind. Liverpool for top spot in the league standings and need to keep winning to try and close the gap on the Merseyside giants.
The Gunners will be in action against Forest at the City Ground in tomorrow's fixture. Before the match, Arteta revealed that Declan Rice And Gabriel Magalhaes have doubts after taking knocks against Palace. He added that Partey will not be available despite his return to training from a thigh injury.
He said (via Arsenal.com): “Thomas is not in the squad, no. He is what he is. You want everyone to be available and he is a top player for us, a really important player for us, but at the moment he is not fit yet.
“He is one of the players (who will face late tests), yes (at Rice). He has worked some, but he has also failed to do something else. I hope it's okay. That's another one, yes (about Gabriel).”
New concern
Magalhaes was tremendous in the recent victory over Palace at the Emirates Stadium. He scored both goals in the first half of the London derby. Rice was firm as always from midfield. The Englishman took advantage of the assist for Magalhaes' first goal from a corner kick.
Both players were substituted with obvious knocks in the second half and Arsenal could be sweating over their fitness ahead of the game at the City Ground, where they are winless in their last three games. Arteta has not ruled out any of the players for the clash and they could pass the respective physical tests.
Meanwhile, it's no surprise that Partey was ruled out beforehand. The midfielder has not played a single minute for the Gunners since suffering an injury in November and Arteta may not want to risk another injury by rushing him back into first-team action after just a few training sessions.
