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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted he is not hopeful that Thomas Partey will be fit enough to play again for the Gunners this season after sustaining a thigh injury earlier this month.

The Ghanaian international has enjoyed his best form in an Arsenal shirt since the turn of the calendar year, but will have to wait until next campaign to build on it by the looks of things. The knock was picked up during the 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

He was forced to sit out the subsequent game at home to Brighton & Hove Albion and Partey's absence was sorely felt by a Gunners side who were forced to deploy youngster Albert Sambi Lokonga in his place. While Lokonga clearly has talent, he is some way from being able to replicate the kind of impact an in-form Partey has on this Arsenal side.

Pressed on whether the former Atletico Madrid man would return anytime soon, Arteta issued the kind of update the Arsenal faithful would have been dreading. "The news that we got after another assessment is not looking very positive for his availability this season", the Spaniard explained. "At the moment we’re not very optimistic."

Partey's injury has come at the worst possible time for