Mikel Arteta confirms whether Partey and Tierney will be available for game against Benfica

Arsenal will this week start the knockout phase of their UEFA Europa League campaign by playing Portuguese side Benfica and this will be a very important game for Mikel Arteta and his boys. Mikel Arteta has opened up about the possibility of Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey playing in that game on Thursday.

Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey have missed the last few games due to an injury and the gunners have surely missed them as they have lost twice in their last three games, and some could argue that they would have won those games if both of these two were in the starting eleven. The Arsenal fans want to see Tierney and Partey in the squad that faces Benfica in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 and Mikel Arteta has confirmed that it’s only of them that might be able to get fit in time.

“It seems unlikely at the moment. But probably if there is one player who has got a bigger chance, it’s Kieran, because probably in the next few days he can start to do some parts with the team. But I don’t know how it is going to evolve when he gets a little bit closer to training with the group.” Mikel Arteta told Arsenal Media.

Thomas Partey has been unlucky with injuries in his time at Arsenal as he has seemed to get injured each time that the gunners start to have a good run of form with him in the squad and so they will definitely miss him in their next few games. Arsenal have a low chance of getting UEFA Champions League football through the Premier League and so they will want all their best players to be fit and ready to play in the UEFA Europa League as it could be their only way of qualifying for next year’s UCL.