Arsenal handed Thomas Partey setback with injury announcement

Arsenal may have to do without after the international break. It has been confirmed that the midfielder has pulled out of international duty with Ghana.

The already have a to contend with, with captain Martin Odegaard sidelined and Kai Havertz pulling out of the Germany squad after picking up a knee problem against Southampton. Ben White and Jurrien Timber both missed that clash, as did longer-term absentees Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney.

did a job for manager Mikel Arteta on Saturday, filling in at right-back given the injury concerns. And it could well be that Arteta is filling holes in his Arsenal team lineup jigsaw with different names after the international break.

The Ghana Football Association said on Monday: "Thomas is unable to join the Black Stars due to medical issues he is currently experiencing, and his club has scheduled him for further tests in the coming days."

has played every match for Arsenal so far this season, missing just 11 minutes of action. He has got on the scoresheet once - in the win over Aston Villa - and has struck up a strong central midfield relationship with Declan Rice.

Arteta will be keen to keep an eye on the midfielder over the next ten days ahead of the return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Saturday, October 19. now, with tests on his injury too.

If Partey is not available to face the Cherries and Odegaard, White and Timber are not available either, it leaves the Gunners boss with issues not only in midfield, but at right-back too. It could be testing times for the Gunners in their battle for the Premier League title with Manchester City and Liverpool.