Thomas Partey is worried about his fitness ahead of Arsenal’s return to the Premier League next weekend after he missed Ghana’s clash with Angola.
The 29-year-old played a full part in a 1-0 win over the same opposition in Tuesday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier but was not called up for Monday’s 1-1 draw at Talatone.
Ghana head coach Chris Houghton later explained that Partey, who missed two Arsenal games in February with a back injury, was taking no chances due to a small problem.
“Thomas has a little problem,” Houghton said at the post-match press conference. “We felt it was too big a risk to start it.”
Partey, who was accompanied by Arsenal physio Simon Murphy in Ganna, has played in 30 of the Gunners’ 39 games this season.
Premier League leaders Arsenal returned to action on Saturday against Leeds United before heading to Liverpool eight days later.
FULL TIME: It’s all over at Estadio 11 de Novembro in Luanda.
• Angola 1-1 Ghana
51′ Lucas João (PC) / 72′ Osman Boukari #BlackStars | #AFCON2023Q | #ANGHA| #Return love
— Black Stars (@GhanaBlackstars) March 27, 2023