Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta provides Thomas Partey injury update ahead of Benfica and Leicester City fixtures

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Arsenal have been without Thomas Partey for almost a month (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is ‘very close’ to a return from the treatment room and is in contention for the upcoming fixtures against Benfica and Leicester City.

Partey has been out for almost a month since suffering an injury in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa at the start of February.

The £45million summer signing has missed Arsenal’s last three matches but could return on Thursday evening when the Gunners face Benfica in the second leg of their last-32 Europa League clash.

Arteta will be without defender Rob Holding, however, after he suffered a concussion in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League.

Arsenal’s Europa League tie with Benfica is finely poised at 1-1 ahead of the second leg at the Emirates.

‘Thomas is very close, he’s got a final test today in training and if he is feeling good he will be available,’ Arteta said on Wednesday morning.

‘Regarding Rob, he is not available. He had a concussion. We used that [substitution]. He is completely fine, but obviously now we need to follow the protocols and he won’t be able to travel.’

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