Thomas Partey has delayed joining up with Ghana as Arsenal assess his groin injury, and he may well avoid linking up with them at all.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey 5 during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor, Burnley, England on 18 September 2021. Burnley Turf Moor Lancashire England Copyright: Simon Davies
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey during the Premier League match between Burnley and Arsenal at Turf Moor, Burnley, England on 18 September 2021. Burnley, Turf Moor, Lancashire, England. Copyright: Simon Davies

The Evening Standard report that Thomas Partey is yet to link up with Ghana for international duty, despite receiving a call-up. Arsenal are continuing to monitor the groin injury that forced the midfielder out of Sunday’s win over Watford.

The Ghanaian FA have confirmed Partey won’t feature against Ethiopia on Thursday, and Simon Collings writes on Twitter that he doesn’t think Partey will join them for the match against South Africa either.

Neither club nor country want to risk Partey causing himself further damage, so they’re waiting for a clearer picture of the injury problem before making a decision.

It’s certainly far from an ideal time for Partey to be missing from action. Ghana are playing their final two games of the current round of World Cup qualifiers, needing to finish in top spot, and they start the week one point behind South Africa.

Assuming South Africa win on Thursday, Ghana will have to win both of their games to top their group.

From an Arsenal point of view, we can only hope that doesn’t encourage Partey or Ghana to rush him into contention. Particularly with a trip away to Liverpool at Anfield coming up next week.