Arsenal are facing a challenging situation ahead of their Premier League clash against West Ham United, as both Thomas Partey and Mikel Merino have been ruled out of the match due to injuries. The absence of these two players, along with Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is also missing from the squad, has forced manager Mikel Arteta to make adjustments to his lineup. In their place, Arteta has decided to start Jorginho alongside Declan Rice in midfield, a partnership that could provide stability in the absence of key players. Jorginho’s performance against Nottingham Forest, where he impressed, will be a boost to the team, and Arteta will be hoping for another solid display from the Italian midfielder.
Arsenal confirmed that Merino’s absence is due to a knee issue, while Partey is sidelined with a muscle problem. These injuries have left Arteta with fewer options in the midfield for this match. During a press conference, Arteta mentioned that some other players had missed training sessions ahead of the West Ham match, further complicating the situation. “Not a lot because we have another training session, we have to see how the boys are today,” Arteta said. “A few weren’t able to train yesterday but hopefully today so we have to wait and see.”
In a statement released on Saturday, Arsenal confirmed the absences of both Merino and Partey, with the club saying: “Mikel Merino (knee issue) and Thomas Partey (muscle issue) both miss out on tonight’s fixture.” While Arteta’s side will aim to manage these absences in the match against West Ham, the bigger challenge lies just around the corner. Arsenal face Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday, with Arteta and United’s new manager, Ruben Amorim, rekindling their rivalry from past European encounters.
Despite the absences, Arteta was able to offer some positive news regarding Gabriel Magalhães. The defender managed to complete a training session ahead of the West Ham game and felt much better, making him available for selection. However, if Partey and Merino are unable to recover in time for the next matches, Arsenal’s midfield options will become increasingly limited, placing additional pressure on Jorginho to perform.
