Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is facing at least six weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury, according to a report.
The 30-year-old has shown his versatility during the early stages of the new campaign, starting each of Arsenal's opening three Premier League games in a makeshift right-back role.
However, the Ghanaian FA announced last week that Partey had sustained a groin injury in training and would subsequently miss their upcoming international fixtures this month.
Partey was also left out of the matchday squad for Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, with Ben White taking his place on the right side of a back four.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta revealed before the win over Man United that he expects Partey to be out for a "couple of weeks", before expressing his concern about the injury after the match.
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"I don't know [how long Partey will be out for]. Unfortunately, he got an injury in training and it doesn't look good," Arteta told Arsenal.com. "We need some more tests, we believe he's going to be out for weeks. We think it's a groin [and not a hamstring injury] but can be something in between."
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal medics now expect Partey to be ruled out for at least six weeks with his groin injury.
The report adds that the Gunners will take a 'cautious approach' to the midfielder's rehabilitation, considering his injury record, which could therefore extend his absence from first-team action.
Arsenal are said to be confident that Partey will be available for selection after the international break in mid-October.
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Partey is now expected to miss at least seven fixtures across all competitions, including four Premier League matches against Everton, North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and reigning champions Manchester City.
The Ghanaian is also set to miss an EFL Cup third-round tie away against Brentford as well as Champions League group-stage fixtures against PSV Eindhoven and Lens.
In the absence of Partey, Arteta could continue with a familiar four-man defence that includes White at right-back, while Takehiro Tomiyasu is also an option.
Meanwhile, Declan Rice – who scored his first Arsenal goal against Man United last weekend – Jorginho, Martin Odegaard, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe are all midfield options at Arteta's disposal.
Partey is the latest Arsenal player to enter the treatment room after Mohamed Elneny and summer signing Jurrien Timber, who are both recovering from long-term knee injuries.
Oliver Thomas
