Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has withdrawn from Ghana’s Black Stars squad for this month’s international games as he suffers from illness.
The 31-year-old, who has appeared in every Arsenal’s league and UEFA Champions League game so far this season will remain in London during the period, rest to recover as a precaution to keep him fresh for upcoming club games.
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He adds to a list of Ghanaian players to miss out of the games as well as a host of Arsenal players who will not be available for their respective countries this month.
Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey withdraws from Ghana squad due to illness
The former Atletico Madrid man is currently having his longest run of games for the club, making nine appearances in the major competitions, while he was also named on the bench for the 5-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup.
Thomas Partey will now miss Ghana’s AFCON qualifying double-header against Sudan this month, leaving the Black Stars in a desperate situation, after their poor start to the qualifiers, which has seen them pick up just one point from two games.
In addition to Partey, three other players have also been ruled out of Ghana and it includes Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Joseph Paintsil, who is dealing with hamstring pain sustained in the club’s recent win over Austin FC in the MLS, and club doctors have scheduled an MRI for October 7.
Michael Baidoo, Abu Francis, Jonas Adjetey and Ibrahim Sadiq have all been called up to take the places of the absent Stars.
Two others are Ibrahim Osman, hamstring injury and Kingsley Schindler, a medical emergency that prevented him from traveling to Accra.
Coach Otto Addo will have to do without the talented midfielder, and will be counting on the likes of in form Antoine Semenyo, Mohammed Kudus and Inaki Williams.
Arsenal will hope Partey recovers in time as they already have several players on the sideline with Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and a few others to sit out of October international games.
