Arsenal have posted an update on Thomas Partey’s injury situation, and it doesn’t make for good reading for Gunners fans.

Arsenal have confirmed that further assessments on the injury Thomas Partey sustained against Crystal Palace have shown that he’s suffered muscle damage to his right thigh.

The club write that they’ll continue to assess Partey in the coming weeks, and he’ll receive further specialist consultations.

The only good news comes from James Benge, who reports that though Arsenal aren’t putting a timescale on Partey’s recovery, a source close to the situation is hopeful he’ll be back before the end of the season.

Even so, the fact that the most optimistic information we have is that a source is “hopeful” Partey will be back before the end of the campaign suggests there’s very little chance he features again this month. Arsenal still have to play Chelsea and Manchester United in April.

Perhaps there’s still a chance the midfielder makes it back for the North London derby, but anything sooner than that seems unlikely.

Dr. Rajpal Brar of 3cbPerformance reports that the information available suggests a grade 2 tear, which would be 4-6 weeks out. Again, that likely leaves Spurs (A), Newcastle United (A), and Everton (H) as the only realistic fixtures for Partey participation.

The injury absence is obviously a huge blow to Arsenal. Partey is one of the team’s key players and one of their top performers in recent months, at least until Monday night.

Mikel Arteta will now likely be relying on Albert Sambi Lokonga to step up in the Ghana international’s absence.